HS Code
382499
Last Updated
2026-06-11
Key takeaways for search and sourcing teams
- Ethyl cellulose market coverage spans 11 countries.
- 22 exporter companies and 31 importer companies are indexed in the global supply chain intelligence network for this product.
- 18 supplier-linked transactions are summarized across the top 7 countries.
- 0 premium suppliers and 0 catalog items are currently listed.
- Wholesale sample entries: 0; farmgate sample entries: 0.
- Page data last updated on 2026-06-11.
Global Supplier Transactions, Export Activity, and Price Benchmarks for Ethyl cellulose
Analyze 18 supplier-linked transactions across the top 7 countries, with monthly unit-price benchmarks to track export competitiveness and sourcing risk for Ethyl cellulose.
Ethyl cellulose Country YoY Change in Supplier Transactions and Export Momentum
Compare positive and negative YoY shifts in Ethyl cellulose to identify accelerating supplier markets and weakening export corridors.
Top YoY shifts for Ethyl cellulose: China (-84.9%), Czechia (-2.1%), Germany (+1.5%).
Ethyl cellulose Country-Level Supplier Transaction and Unit Price Summary
As of 2025-07, benchmark Ethyl cellulose country transaction counts with monthly unit price and volume to prioritize supplier and export markets.
In 2025-12, countries with visible Ethyl cellulose transaction unit prices: China (100.00 USD / kg), Czechia (16.99 USD / kg).
| Country | YoY Change | Transaction Count | 2025-07 | 2025-08 | 2025-09 | 2025-10 | 2025-11 | 2025-12 | 2026-01 | 2026-02 | 2026-03 | 2026-04 | 2026-05 | 2026-06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czechia | -2.1% | 7 | - (-) | - (-) | 14.55 USD / kg (2,969.7 kg) | 16.34 USD / kg (1,496.3 kg) | 16.36 USD / kg (7,962.9 kg) | 16.99 USD / kg (4,833.6 kg) | ||||||
| China | -84.9% | 2 | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | 100.00 USD / kg (3.6 kg) | ||||||
| Japan | - | 3 | - (-) | 1550.00 USD / kg (3 kg) | 6156.83 USD / kg (3.5 kg) | - (-) | 6156.83 USD / kg (1 kg) | - (-) | ||||||
| Italy | - | 3 | - (-) | 21.53 USD / kg (276 kg) | - (-) | 25.01 USD / kg (322 kg) | - (-) | - (-) | ||||||
| United States | - | 1 | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | 2.22 USD / kg (3,271.68 kg) | - (-) | - (-) | ||||||
| Germany | +1.5% | 1 | - (-) | - (-) | 2.45 USD / kg (8,160 kg) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | ||||||
| United Kingdom | - | 1 | - (-) | 3.10 USD / kg (20 kg) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) |
Ethyl cellulose Global Supply Chain Coverage
53 companies
22 exporters and 31 importers are mapped for Ethyl cellulose.
Exporters and importers can use Tridge Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to identify counterparties for Ethyl cellulose, benchmark reach, and prioritize outreach by market.
Ethyl cellulose Export Supplier Intelligence, Trade Flows, and Price Signals
22 exporter companies are mapped in Tridge Supply Chain Intelligence for Ethyl cellulose. Exporters and importers can use company profiles and analytics to evaluate supplier coverage, trading activity, and route opportunities.
Ethyl cellulose Top Exporters and Supplier Profiles
Review leading exporter profiles while benchmarking against 22 total exporter companies in the Ethyl cellulose supply chain intelligence network. Exporters and importers can unlock company profiles and analytics to qualify partners faster.
(Vietnam)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-01-12
Employee Size: 11 - 50 Employees
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: Logistics
Exporting Countries: Vietnam
Supplying Products: Ethyl cellulose
(Vietnam)
Latest Export Transaction: 2025-08-11
Recently Export Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: Trade
Exporting Countries: Vietnam
Supplying Products: Ethyl cellulose, Aluminium silicate, Bleached starch +1
(Philippines)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-11
Recently Export Partner Companies: 1
Employee Size: 51 - 100 Employees
Industries: Food ManufacturingFood Packaging
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / WholesaleFood Manufacturing
Exporting Countries: Indonesia, South Korea
Supplying Products: Ethyl cellulose, Powdered cellulose
(Germany)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-11
Employee Size: 101 - 500 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD 50M - 100M
Industries: Food Packaging
Value Chain Roles: Others
(Russia)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-11
Employee Size: Over 1000 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD Over 1B
Industries: Food Packaging
Value Chain Roles: Others
Exporting Countries: South Korea
Supplying Products: Ethyl cellulose
(Poland)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-11
Recently Export Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Food ManufacturingFood Packaging
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / WholesaleFood Manufacturing
Ethyl cellulose Global Exporter Coverage
22 companies
Exporter company count is a key signal for Ethyl cellulose supply depth and sourcing optionality.
Use Supply Chain Intelligence analytics to narrow Ethyl cellulose opportunities by country, product, and value-chain role, then open company profiles to validate fit.
Ethyl cellulose Import Buyer Intelligence, Demand Signals, and Price Benchmarks
31 importer companies are mapped for Ethyl cellulose demand intelligence. Use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to prioritize buyers, distributors, and downstream demand partners by market.
Ethyl cellulose Top Buyers, Importers, and Demand Partners
Review leading buyer profiles and compare them against 31 total importer companies tracked for Ethyl cellulose. Exporters and importers can use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to evaluate buyer quality and demand concentration.
(Peru)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-05-11
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: -
(Kazakhstan)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-05-11
Industries: Food ManufacturingFood PackagingOthers
Value Chain Roles: -
(Vietnam)
Latest Import Transaction: 2025-08-08
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Employee Size: 1 - 10 Employees
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: -
(Philippines)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-05-11
Industries: Food ManufacturingFood Packaging
Value Chain Roles: -
(Mexico)
Latest Import Transaction: 2025-10-20
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: -
(Indonesia)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-05-11
Employee Size: Over 1000 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD Over 1B
Industries: Animal ProductionBrokers And Trade AgenciesFood ManufacturingFood Packaging
Value Chain Roles: -
Global Importer Coverage
31 companies
Importer company count highlights the current depth of demand-side visibility for Ethyl cellulose.
Use Supply Chain Intelligence analytics and company profiles to identify active Ethyl cellulose buyers, compare partner density by country, and refine GTM priorities.
Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormPowder (Primary Form)
Industry PositionFood Additive / Excipient (Modified Cellulose Ether)
Market
Ethyl cellulose (INS 462; CAS 9004-57-3) is a modified cellulose ether used globally as a functional food additive and excipient, including roles such as carrier, bulking agent, tableting aid and thickener. International identity and purity expectations are anchored in JECFA specifications (including ethoxyl substitution limits and impurity controls), and some markets also specify permitted use contexts in regulation. In trade statistics, ethyl cellulose is commonly captured within HS 391239 (cellulose ethers other than carboxymethylcellulose), a broader category where 2024 export supply is led by Germany, China, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Belgium. Demand for this HS category is concentrated in large manufacturing and formulation hubs (notably India, the United States, China and Turkey), consistent with downstream use in formulated products (e.g., supplements/tablets and flavor systems).
Major Producing Countries
- GermanyLeading global exporter in HS 391239 (cellulose ethers; category commonly used to proxy ethyl cellulose trade).
- ChinaAmong top global exporters in HS 391239 (cellulose ethers; category commonly used to proxy ethyl cellulose trade).
- United StatesAmong top global exporters in HS 391239 (cellulose ethers; category commonly used to proxy ethyl cellulose trade).
- South KoreaAmong top global exporters in HS 391239 (cellulose ethers; category commonly used to proxy ethyl cellulose trade).
- JapanAmong top global exporters in HS 391239 (cellulose ethers; category commonly used to proxy ethyl cellulose trade).
Major Exporting Countries
- GermanyTop exporter in 2024 for HS 391239 (cellulose ethers other than CMC).
- ChinaTop exporter in 2024 for HS 391239 (cellulose ethers other than CMC).
- United StatesTop exporter in 2024 for HS 391239 (cellulose ethers other than CMC).
- South KoreaTop exporter in 2024 for HS 391239 (cellulose ethers other than CMC).
- JapanMajor exporter in 2024 for HS 391239 (cellulose ethers other than CMC).
- BelgiumMajor exporter in 2024 for HS 391239 (cellulose ethers other than CMC).
Major Importing Countries
- IndiaTop importer in 2024 for HS 391239 (cellulose ethers other than CMC).
- United StatesTop importing market in 2024 for HS 391239 (cellulose ethers other than CMC).
- ChinaTop importer in 2024 for HS 391239 (cellulose ethers other than CMC).
- TurkiyeTop importer in 2024 for HS 391239 (cellulose ethers other than CMC).
Specification
Physical Attributes
- Free-flowing, white to light tan powder (food additive/ingredient monograph descriptions).
- Practically insoluble in water (and in glycerin/propylene glycol); solubility in organic solvents varies with ethoxyl content.
Compositional Metrics
- JECFA assay: 44% to 50% ethoxyl groups on a dried basis (equivalent to not more than 2.6 ethoxyl groups per anhydroglucose unit).
- JECFA purity examples include limits for loss on drying, sulfated ash and lead (specification-driven purchasing).
- The article of commerce can be specified further by viscosity (common grade differentiator).
Grades
- Commercial grades are typically differentiated by viscosity (JECFA notes the article of commerce may be specified further by viscosity).
ProcessingFilm-forming polymer: JECFA describes a film-forming test using a toluene-ethanol solvent system; FCC also describes solvent-dependent solubility behavior tied to ethoxyl content.
Supply Chain
Value Chain
- Cellulose feedstock (wood pulp or cotton) -> alkali treatment -> ethylation with ethyl chloride -> purification / meeting identity & purity specs -> drying and milling -> distribution to food/flavor and supplement/tablet formulators.
Demand Drivers
- Formulation demand where a carrier, bulking agent, tableting aid or thickener is needed (JECFA functional classes).
- Use in dry vitamin preparations and protective coatings for vitamin/mineral tablets, and as a fixative in flavoring compounds (example regulatory use contexts in the United States).
Risks
Supply Concentration HighSpecification-compliant ethyl cellulose supply is operationally concentrated in a limited set of exporter-manufacturing hubs within the broader HS 391239 cellulose-ethers trade category (notably Germany, China, the United States and the Republic of Korea in 2024). Because buyers often qualify specific viscosity/grade and must meet JECFA/FCC and local regulatory definitions, unexpected plant outages or trade/logistics disruptions can be difficult to substitute quickly without requalification and compliance checks.Qualify at least two approved suppliers across different regions for the required viscosity/grade; contract safety stock and define equivalency ranges (e.g., viscosity bands) in purchasing specifications.
Regulatory Compliance MediumRegulatory and standard-setting bodies define ethyl cellulose by its substitution chemistry and purity/identity expectations (e.g., ethoxy substitution limits and impurity controls), and permitted food uses can be jurisdiction-specific. Nonconforming ethoxyl content, impurity results or off-label application can create compliance risk and shipment holds.Buy to recognized specifications (e.g., JECFA and/or FCC grade as applicable), verify ethoxyl content/impurities via COA testing, and map intended use to each destination market’s additive permissions.
Feedstock And Chemical Inputs MediumEthyl cellulose production depends on cellulose feedstocks (wood pulp/cotton) and key chemical inputs (alkali treatment and ethylation using ethyl chloride). Volatility or constraint in these inputs can raise costs, extend lead times and affect availability of certain viscosity grades.Monitor pulp/cotton and key chemical input markets; use forward contracts and dual sourcing where feasible for critical grades.
Sustainability
- Feedstock traceability and sustainability expectations may focus on upstream cellulose sourcing because ethyl cellulose is produced from wood pulp or cotton.
- Process safety and emissions controls can be material because manufacture involves alkali treatment and ethylation using ethyl chloride (hazardous chemical input).
FAQ
What is ethyl cellulose (INS 462/E462) and why is it used in food and supplements?Ethyl cellulose is a modified cellulose ether (INS 462; CAS 9004-57-3) used for functional roles such as a carrier, bulking agent, tableting aid and thickener. Regulations and standards describe it as an ethyl ether of cellulose with defined substitution chemistry, and it is commonly used in dry vitamin preparations, protective tablet coatings, and as a fixative in flavoring compounds.
What are the key specification points buyers typically check for ethyl cellulose?JECFA specifications include an assay range for ethoxyl groups (44%–50% on a dried basis) and a substitution cap (not more than 2.6 ethoxy groups per anhydroglucose unit), and they note that commercial material can be specified by viscosity. JECFA also provides purity/impurity expectations (e.g., limits for loss on drying, sulfated ash and lead), while FCC provides aligned descriptive identity and solubility behavior.
Which trade code is commonly used as a proxy for global ethyl cellulose trade flows?Ethyl cellulose is commonly captured within HS 391239 (cellulose ethers other than carboxymethylcellulose and its salts, in primary forms). This HS category is broader than ethyl cellulose alone, but it is often used as a practical proxy for cellulose-ether trade flows when product-specific customs splits are not available.
Sources
Ethyl cellulose Country Coverage for Suppliers, Export Flows, and Prices
Explore country-level Ethyl cellulose market pages for supplier coverage, trade flows, and price benchmarks.
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