Which countries buy most of a commodity from one supplier?
Derived report snapshot · 2026-10-04 · Original report
Of 1,262 import markets worth at least $250 million (2024 figures, one row per importing country and commodity), 560 buy half or more of their imports from a single supplying country and 223 buy three quarters or more. The median market's largest supplier is 47% of its imports; the largest market in the table is the United States's crude oil imports, 59% of which come from Canada.
This is the import-side mirror of export dependency, built from CEPII BACI bilateral flows on each commodity's primary HS line (see trade flows). Markets below $250 million are left out: a small market is dominated by one supplier by arithmetic, not because of anything about the country. A "supplier" here is the exporting country BACI records, which can be a trading or refining hub rather than the country where the goods were grown or mined, so a high share names who ships to the importer, not always who produces. Click a heading to sort.
Countries with the most single-supplier markets
| Importer | Markets at 50% or more | Import value in them | Largest of them |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 33 | $226.4 billion | Iron ore from Australia (64%); Soybeans from Brazil (67%); Beef from Brazil (51%) |
| United States | 26 | $226.3 billion | Crude oil from Canada (59%); Aluminum from Canada (68%); Natural gas from Canada (85%) |
| Japan | 20 | $54.6 billion | Coal from Australia (65%); Iron ore from Australia (63%); Corn from United States (83%) |
| Mexico | 19 | $30.8 billion | Natural gas from United States (98%); Corn from United States (100%); Soybeans from United States (77%) |
| Canada | 18 | $26.6 billion | Crude oil from United States (68%); Natural gas from United States (88%); Steel from United States (68%) |
| Brazil | 14 | $11.9 billion | Natural gas from United States (51%); Wheat from Argentina (62%); Salmon from Chile (100%) |
| United Arab Emirates | 13 | $9.9 billion | Steel from China (71%); Sugar from Brazil (90%); Chicken from Brazil (77%) |
| Saudi Arabia | 12 | $20.0 billion | Gold from Switzerland (60%); Sugar from Brazil (97%); Steel from China (88%) |
| South Korea | 12 | $19.0 billion | Iron ore from Australia (69%); Steel from Japan (50%); Beef from United States (52%) |
| India | 12 | $18.8 billion | Palm oil from Indonesia (53%); Sunflower oil from Russia (60%); Sugar from Brazil (99%) |
| Turkey (Türkiye) | 12 | $13.4 billion | Coal from Russia (56%); Soybeans from Brazil (62%); Wheat from Russia (87%) |
| Vietnam | 11 | $17.2 billion | Steel from China (73%); Corn from Argentina (55%); Rice from Cambodia (82%) |
| Egypt | 10 | $19.3 billion | Natural gas from Israel (54%); Wheat from Russia (59%); Corn from Brazil (59%) |
| Indonesia | 10 | $15.4 billion | Natural gas from United States (52%); Coal from Australia (50%); Sugar from Brazil (60%) |
| Malaysia | 10 | $14.4 billion | Coal from Indonesia (58%); Natural gas from Australia (60%); Iron ore from Brazil (74%) |
| Belgium | 9 | $27.7 billion | Crude oil from Netherlands (98%); Wheat from France (64%); Coal from Australia (53%) |
| France | 9 | $13.0 billion | Gold from Switzerland (57%); Coal from Australia (61%); Tomatoes from Morocco (81%) |
| Spain | 9 | $9.0 billion | Soybeans from Brazil (71%); Wheat from Ukraine (54%); Salmon from Norway (53%) |
| Thailand | 9 | $7.3 billion | Soybeans from Brazil (84%); Steel from Japan (75%); Coal from Indonesia (72%) |
| Netherlands | 9 | $5.5 billion | Salmon from Norway (59%); Molybdenum from United States (54%); Potatoes from Germany (52%) |
| Russia | 9 | $4.3 billion | Palm oil from Indonesia (65%); Bananas from Ecuador (97%); Soybeans from Brazil (80%) |
| Germany | 8 | $31.3 billion | Natural gas from Norway (64%); Soybeans from United States (64%); Eggs from Netherlands (74%) |
| United Kingdom | 8 | $20.6 billion | Natural gas from Norway (75%); Salmon from Norway (76%); Olive oil from Spain (67%) |
| Bangladesh | 8 | $6.2 billion | Palm oil from Indonesia (73%); Coal from Indonesia (93%); Soybeans from Brazil (53%) |
| Pakistan | 7 | $16.1 billion | Crude oil from Saudi Arabia (56%); Natural gas from Qatar (71%); Palm oil from Indonesia (86%) |
The largest markets with a single dominant supplier
The 150 largest import markets where one supplier has at least half. Second supplier shown so a close call reads differently from a monopoly.
| Importer | Commodity | Largest supplier | Its share | Second supplier's share | Suppliers | Imports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Crude oil | Canada | 59% | Mexico 7.4% | 41 | $169.2 billion |
| China | Iron ore | Australia | 64% | Brazil 18% | 74 | $112.6 billion |
| China | Soybeans | Brazil | 67% | United States 27% | 23 | $47.2 billion |
| Japan | Coal | Australia | 65% | Indonesia 16% | 19 | $26.7 billion |
| Germany | Natural gas | Norway | 64% | Belgium 23% | 46 | $26.1 billion |
| Belgium | Crude oil | Netherlands | 98% | United Kingdom 0.5% | 43 | $23.0 billion |
| United Kingdom | Natural gas | Norway | 75% | United States 17% | 44 | $17.3 billion |
| Canada | Crude oil | United States | 68% | Saudi Arabia 8.9% | 32 | $15.8 billion |
| China | Beef | Brazil | 51% | Argentina 15% | 34 | $11.8 billion |
| United States | Aluminum | Canada | 68% | United Arab Emirates 11% | 44 | $11.1 billion |
| United States | Natural gas | Canada | 85% | Nigeria 5% | 50 | $10.2 billion |
| China | Bauxite | Guinea | 77% | Australia 18% | 38 | $9.9 billion |
| Other Asia, nes | Coal | Australia | 58% | Indonesia 22% | 14 | $8.9 billion |
| Japan | Iron ore | Australia | 63% | Brazil 13% | 18 | $8.5 billion |
| India | Palm oil | Indonesia | 53% | Malaysia 34% | 24 | $8.3 billion |
| Saudi Arabia | Gold | Switzerland | 60% | United Arab Emirates 35% | 25 | $8.1 billion |
| South Korea | Iron ore | Australia | 69% | Brazil 14% | 26 | $7.8 billion |
| United States | Sawnwood | Canada | 71% | Germany 7.6% | 98 | $7.7 billion |
| Mexico | Natural gas | United States | 98% | Canada 1.3% | 12 | $7.0 billion |
| France | Gold | Switzerland | 57% | Italy 15% | 48 | $6.5 billion |
| Vietnam | Steel | China | 73% | Japan 11% | 19 | $6.4 billion |
| Armenia | Gold | Russia | 99% | United Arab Emirates 0.4% | 11 | $5.9 billion |
| Pakistan | Crude oil | Saudi Arabia | 56% | United Arab Emirates 42% | 7 | $5.7 billion |
| China | Chromium | South Africa | 87% | Turkey (Türkiye) 5.6% | 31 | $5.5 billion |
| Cambodia | Gold | Thailand | 57% | Singapore 43% | 7 | $5.4 billion |
| Finland | Crude oil | Norway | 77% | United Kingdom 11% | 8 | $5.3 billion |
| Egypt | Natural gas | Israel | 54% | United States 36% | 17 | $5.3 billion |
| Egypt | Wheat | Russia | 59% | Ukraine 18% | 15 | $5.2 billion |
| Pakistan | Natural gas | Qatar | 71% | Iran 14% | 24 | $4.9 billion |
| Romania | Crude oil | Kazakhstan | 54% | Guyana 13% | 14 | $4.7 billion |
| Austria | Crude oil | Kazakhstan | 58% | Libya 15% | 18 | $4.7 billion |
| Mexico | Corn | United States | 100% | Brazil 0.2% | 15 | $4.7 billion |
| Hungary | Natural gas | Russia | 63% | Romania 15% | 28 | $4.7 billion |
| Turkey (Türkiye) | Coal | Russia | 56% | Australia 15% | 24 | $4.6 billion |
| Brazil | Natural gas | United States | 51% | Bolivia 27% | 24 | $4.6 billion |
| Malaysia | Coal | Indonesia | 58% | Australia 24% | 30 | $4.6 billion |
| Hong Kong | Silver | China | 78% | South Korea 10% | 33 | $4.1 billion |
| South Africa | Gold | Tanzania | 55% | Namibia 20% | 30 | $4.1 billion |
| United States | Tomatoes | Mexico | 84% | Canada 14% | 26 | $3.8 billion |
| United States | Avocados | Mexico | 91% | Peru 4.3% | 14 | $3.8 billion |
| United States | Potash | Canada | 81% | Russia 13% | 41 | $3.7 billion |
| Indonesia | Natural gas | United States | 52% | Qatar 11% | 24 | $3.7 billion |
| Japan | Corn | United States | 83% | Brazil 15% | 33 | $3.6 billion |
| Indonesia | Coal | Australia | 50% | Russia 24% | 34 | $3.6 billion |
| India | Sunflower oil | Russia | 60% | Ukraine 23% | 29 | $3.3 billion |
| China | Cobalt | DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) | 93% | Philippines 1.3% | 30 | $3.2 billion |
| China | Platinum | South Africa | 66% | Hong Kong 16% | 18 | $3.2 billion |
| Italy | Olive oil | Spain | 57% | Greece 17% | 44 | $3.2 billion |
| China | Palm oil | Indonesia | 68% | Malaysia 32% | 17 | $3.2 billion |
| Philippines | Coal | Indonesia | 98% | Vietnam 1.3% | 12 | $3.2 billion |
| Hungary | Crude oil | Russia | 74% | Croatia 15% | 9 | $3.1 billion |
| South Korea | Steel | Japan | 50% | China 47% | 31 | $3.1 billion |
| Pakistan | Palm oil | Indonesia | 86% | Malaysia 14% | 9 | $3.0 billion |
| Malaysia | Natural gas | Australia | 60% | United States 9.2% | 32 | $3.0 billion |
| Mexico | Soybeans | United States | 77% | Brazil 23% | 3 | $3.0 billion |
| China | Canola | Canada | 95% | Russia 3.4% | 9 | $3.0 billion |
| Denmark | Crude oil | United States | 71% | Norway 19% | 12 | $2.9 billion |
| Argentina | Soybeans | Paraguay | 94% | Brazil 3.1% | 11 | $2.9 billion |
| Mexico | Pork | United States | 81% | Canada 15% | 8 | $2.9 billion |
| Slovakia | Crude oil | Russia | 75% | Croatia 11% | 15 | $2.9 billion |
| Czechia | Natural gas | Norway | 65% | Russia 31% | 34 | $2.9 billion |
| Indonesia | Sugar | Brazil | 60% | Thailand 21% | 31 | $2.8 billion |
| China | Milk | New Zealand | 66% | Australia 13% | 49 | $2.7 billion |
| Hong Kong | Natural gas | China | 84% | Qatar 8.3% | 21 | $2.6 billion |
| China | Lithium | Chile | 78% | Argentina 18% | 26 | $2.6 billion |
| Vietnam | Corn | Argentina | 55% | Brazil 37% | 15 | $2.5 billion |
| Philippines | Rice | Vietnam | 73% | Thailand 13% | 25 | $2.5 billion |
| Spain | Soybeans | Brazil | 71% | United States 27% | 31 | $2.5 billion |
| Slovakia | Natural gas | Russia | 96% | Czechia 2% | 30 | $2.5 billion |
| United Arab Emirates | Steel | China | 71% | Japan 11% | 32 | $2.4 billion |
| Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) | Crude oil | Nigeria | 88% | Colombia 12% | 4 | $2.4 billion |
| Mexico | Steel | United States | 53% | Japan 15% | 27 | $2.4 billion |
| South Korea | Beef | United States | 52% | Australia 40% | 17 | $2.4 billion |
| South Korea | Gold | Australia | 54% | Japan 21% | 36 | $2.4 billion |
| Other Asia, nes | Iron ore | Australia | 68% | Brazil 21% | 11 | $2.2 billion |
| China | Sorghum | United States | 63% | Australia 25% | 7 | $2.2 billion |
| Poland | Salmon | Norway | 58% | Sweden 33% | 21 | $2.2 billion |
| China | Corn | Ukraine | 52% | Brazil 23% | 28 | $2.1 billion |
| Saudi Arabia | Sugar | Brazil | 97% | United Arab Emirates 0.7% | 46 | $2.1 billion |
| Malaysia | Iron ore | Brazil | 74% | Australia 12% | 29 | $2.1 billion |
| China | Wool | Australia | 75% | South Africa 9.6% | 39 | $2.0 billion |
| Mozambique | Chromium | South Africa | 96% | Zimbabwe 4.5% | 2 | $2.0 billion |
| Saudi Arabia | Steel | China | 88% | Japan 5.2% | 42 | $1.9 billion |
| Saudi Arabia | Rice | India | 75% | Pakistan 11% | 38 | $1.9 billion |
| Egypt | Corn | Brazil | 59% | Ukraine 29% | 21 | $1.9 billion |
| Spain | Wheat | Ukraine | 54% | France 16% | 41 | $1.8 billion |
| Canada | Natural gas | United States | 88% | Trinidad and Tobago 6.4% | 30 | $1.8 billion |
| Croatia | Crude oil | Azerbaijan | 54% | Kazakhstan 16% | 16 | $1.8 billion |
| Japan | Soybeans | United States | 65% | Brazil 18% | 23 | $1.8 billion |
| Thailand | Soybeans | Brazil | 84% | United States 14% | 15 | $1.8 billion |
| Ireland | Natural gas | United Kingdom | 96% | Netherlands 1.6% | 28 | $1.8 billion |
| Mexico | Chicken | United States | 63% | Brazil 32% | 10 | $1.8 billion |
| China | Sugar | Brazil | 80% | South Korea 6.5% | 48 | $1.8 billion |
| United States | Palm oil | Indonesia | 84% | Malaysia 11% | 47 | $1.8 billion |
| United States | Zinc | Canada | 64% | Mexico 15% | 34 | $1.7 billion |
| Brazil | Wheat | Argentina | 62% | Uruguay 12% | 7 | $1.7 billion |
| Vietnam | Rice | Cambodia | 82% | India 16% | 20 | $1.7 billion |
| Egypt | Soybeans | United States | 61% | Ukraine 19% | 14 | $1.7 billion |
| Morocco | Coal | United States | 79% | South Africa 9.8% | 16 | $1.7 billion |
| Germany | Soybeans | United States | 64% | Netherlands 11% | 54 | $1.7 billion |
| Tunisia | Natural gas | Algeria | 85% | Greece 7% | 17 | $1.7 billion |
| Austria | Gold | Switzerland | 65% | Germany 29% | 35 | $1.7 billion |
| Uzbekistan | Natural gas | Russia | 55% | Turkmenistan 44% | 14 | $1.7 billion |
| Thailand | Steel | Japan | 75% | China 13% | 31 | $1.7 billion |
| India | Sugar | Brazil | 99% | France 0.5% | 32 | $1.7 billion |
| Iraq | Rice | India | 57% | Thailand 37% | 16 | $1.6 billion |
| Turkey (Türkiye) | Soybeans | Brazil | 62% | United States 16% | 21 | $1.6 billion |
| United States | Rice | Thailand | 55% | India 25% | 79 | $1.6 billion |
| India | Platinum | United Arab Emirates | 67% | Thailand 28% | 18 | $1.6 billion |
| Colombia | Corn | United States | 97% | Brazil 1.4% | 12 | $1.6 billion |
| Mexico | Copper | United States | 96% | Chile 3% | 6 | $1.5 billion |
| Switzerland | Natural gas | France | 61% | Germany 31% | 32 | $1.5 billion |
| Japan | Platinum | South Africa | 79% | United Kingdom 5.7% | 19 | $1.5 billion |
| United States | Lamb | Australia | 73% | New Zealand 26% | 18 | $1.5 billion |
| Indonesia | Iron ore | Australia | 70% | Brazil 14% | 25 | $1.5 billion |
| Vietnam | Iron ore | Australia | 58% | Malaysia 24% | 7 | $1.5 billion |
| United States | Pork | Canada | 61% | Mexico 10% | 26 | $1.5 billion |
| Thailand | Coal | Indonesia | 72% | Australia 23% | 26 | $1.4 billion |
| Japan | Silver | South Korea | 65% | Mexico 24% | 35 | $1.4 billion |
| Dominican Republic | Natural gas | United States | 72% | Trinidad and Tobago 24% | 12 | $1.4 billion |
| Morocco | Natural gas | United States | 55% | Spain 28% | 24 | $1.4 billion |
| Indonesia | Soybeans | United States | 90% | Canada 9.1% | 19 | $1.4 billion |
| Japan | Chicken | Brazil | 62% | Thailand 36% | 20 | $1.4 billion |
| Saudi Arabia | Chicken | Brazil | 60% | Russia 14% | 19 | $1.4 billion |
| Kenya | Palm oil | Malaysia | 85% | Indonesia 15% | 11 | $1.4 billion |
| Bahrain | Iron ore | Brazil | 71% | Chile 19% | 7 | $1.4 billion |
| Japan | Steel | South Korea | 64% | Other Asia, nes 24% | 30 | $1.4 billion |
| Vietnam | Gold | Hong Kong | 90% | South Korea 5.1% | 16 | $1.3 billion |
| China | Silver | Japan | 69% | Armenia 9.7% | 42 | $1.3 billion |
| Bangladesh | Palm oil | Indonesia | 73% | Malaysia 27% | 4 | $1.3 billion |
| Turkey (Türkiye) | Wheat | Russia | 87% | Ukraine 9.7% | 28 | $1.3 billion |
| United Arab Emirates | Sugar | Brazil | 90% | India 4.2% | 45 | $1.3 billion |
| Netherlands | Salmon | Norway | 59% | Sweden 23% | 30 | $1.3 billion |
| Mexico | Wheat | United States | 85% | Canada 14% | 3 | $1.3 billion |
| United Arab Emirates | Chicken | Brazil | 77% | United States 6.7% | 37 | $1.2 billion |
| Ireland | Crude oil | United States | 86% | Azerbaijan 11% | 7 | $1.2 billion |
| Turkey (Türkiye) | Sunflower oil | Russia | 62% | Ukraine 30% | 45 | $1.2 billion |
| Japan | Natural rubber | Indonesia | 53% | Thailand 42% | 29 | $1.2 billion |
| United States | Coconut oil | Philippines | 51% | Indonesia 33% | 54 | $1.2 billion |
| Israel | Crude oil | Azerbaijan | 59% | Brazil 18% | 8 | $1.2 billion |
| Nigeria | Crude oil | United States | 100% | — | 1 | $1.2 billion |
| Other Asia, nes | Soybeans | Brazil | 52% | United States 43% | 17 | $1.2 billion |
| Saudi Arabia | Palm oil | Indonesia | 59% | Malaysia 35% | 26 | $1.2 billion |
| China | Lamb | Australia | 51% | New Zealand 48% | 13 | $1.2 billion |
| Egypt | Palm oil | Indonesia | 64% | Malaysia 35% | 13 | $1.2 billion |
| Italy | Soybeans | Brazil | 52% | United States 30% | 37 | $1.2 billion |
| Spain | Salmon | Norway | 53% | Sweden 35% | 20 | $1.2 billion |
| Bangladesh | Coal | Indonesia | 93% | South Africa 5.6% | 7 | $1.1 billion |
| Malaysia | Sugar | Brazil | 69% | Thailand 17% | 26 | $1.1 billion |
| France | Coal | Australia | 61% | United States 22% | 34 | $1.1 billion |
18 of these markets get 90% or more from one supplier. A share that high can reflect a short pipeline, a neighbouring producer or a transit route, among other causes, and the table cannot tell them apart: it measures concentration of who shipped, not whether a buyer could switch.
CEPII BACI trade values, each commodity's primary HS line, latest year on file per commodity (mostly 2024). Import markets of at least $250 million only; the table shows the 150 largest of the 560 at 50% or more.
Source snapshot and downloads
Recreated from Commodity Origins' published derived reports under CC BY 4.0. Report figures retain the publisher's definitions, coverage and reporting years. Selection of underlying commodity rows in our commodity explorer is separate and may have different coverage. Source notes above identify the upstream data; no publisher endorsement is implied.
Snapshot retrieved 2026-10-05. New source vintages require review and republication.