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This table presents the regional distribution of U.S. soda ash exports by customs districts for the year 2024, detailing the quantities shipped to various global regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Australia and Oceania. This data is crucial for understanding the geographic flow of soda ash, a key industrial chemical used in glass manufacturing, detergents, and chemical production. Tracking export volumes by customs district helps identify major export hubs and trade patterns, informing economic policy, infrastructure planning, and market development strategies within the mineral and chemical sectors.
Analysis of the data reveals that the Columbia-Snake customs district dominates U.S. soda ash exports, accounting for 75% of the total 7.4 million metric tons exported in 2024, with significant shipments primarily to Asia (3.31 million metric tons) and Central America (1.93 million metric tons). The Laredo, TX district follows as the second largest exporter with 923,000 metric tons, representing 12% of total exports, mainly directed to North America. Houston-Galveston, TX also plays a notable role, exporting 172,000 metric tons primarily to Europe and North America. Smaller districts such as New York, NY and Detroit, MI contribute modestly, with exports of 1,830 and 86,400 metric tons respectively. The data indicates a strong concentration of exports through a few key districts, reflecting logistical efficiencies and regional demand, while the overall distribution underscores the importance of Asian and Central American markets for U.S. soda ash.
| TABLE 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF U.S. SODA ASH EXPORTS, BY CUSTOMS DISTRICTS, IN 20241 | ||||||||||||||||
| (Metric tons) | ||||||||||||||||
| Australia and Oceania | North | South America and | Percentage | |||||||||||||
| Customs districts | Africa | Asia | Europe | America | Central America | Total | of total | |||||||||
| Atlantic: | ||||||||||||||||
| Miami, FL | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1190 | 1190 | (2) | ||||||||
| Mobile, AL | -- | -- | -- | 34 | -- | 456 | 490 | (2) | ||||||||
| New York, NY | -- | 1420 | -- | 141 | -- | 269 | 1830 | (2) | ||||||||
| Norfolk, VA | -- | 77 | -- | 1440 | -- | -- | 1520 | (2) | ||||||||
| Philadelphia, PA | -- | -- | -- | 800 | -- | -- | 800 | (2) | ||||||||
| Savannah, GA | -- | -- | -- | 8 | -- | -- | 8 | (2) | ||||||||
| Wilmington, NC | -- | -- | -- | 281 | -- | -- | 281 | (2) | ||||||||
| Gulf: | ||||||||||||||||
| Houston-Galveston, TX | -- | -- | -- | 56800 | 29200 | 86000 | 172000 | 2 | ||||||||
| New Orleans, LA | -- | 58 | -- | 38 | 2 | -- | 98 | (2) | ||||||||
| North-central: | ||||||||||||||||
| Chicago, IL | -- | 457 | -- | 279 | -- | -- | 735 | (2) | ||||||||
| Cleveland, OH | -- | 118 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 118 | (2) | ||||||||
| Detroit, MI | -- | 109 | -- | -- | 86300 | -- | 86400 | 1 | ||||||||
| Duluth, MN | -- | -- | -- | -- | 300 | -- | 300 | (2) | ||||||||
| Great Falls, MT | -- | -- | -- | 22 | 33000 | -- | 33000 | (2) | ||||||||
| Pembina, ND | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3750 | -- | 3750 | (2) | ||||||||
| Northeast: | ||||||||||||||||
| Buffalo, NY | -- | -- | -- | 20 | 17500 | -- | 17500 | (2) | ||||||||
| Ogdensburg, NY | -- | -- | -- | -- | 520 | -- | 520 | (2) | ||||||||
| Portland, ME | -- | -- | -- | -- | 15 | -- | 15 | (2) | ||||||||
| Pacific: | ||||||||||||||||
| Columbia-Snake, OR | -- | 3310000 | 203000 | 116000 | -- | 1930000 | 5560000 | 75 | ||||||||
| Los Angeles, CA | -- | 205000 | 157 | -- | -- | 9320 | 215000 | 3 | ||||||||
| San Diego, CA | 77 | 13000 | -- | 48 | 120000 | -- | 134000 | 2 | ||||||||
| San Francisco, CA | -- | 3900 | 64 | 21 | -- | 858 | 4850 | (2) | ||||||||
| Seattle, WA | -- | 256 | -- | -- | 17500 | -- | 17800 | (2) | ||||||||
| Southeast: | ||||||||||||||||
| Charleston, SC | -- | -- | -- | 10 | -- | -- | 10 | (2) | ||||||||
| Southwest: | ||||||||||||||||
| El Paso, TX | -- | -- | -- | -- | 224000 | -- | 224000 | 3 | ||||||||
| Laredo, TX | -- | -- | -- | -- | 923000 | -- | 923000 | 12 | ||||||||
| Nogales, AZ | -- | -- | -- | -- | 641 | -- | 641 | (2) | ||||||||
| Unknown | -- | -- | -- | -- | 302 | -- | 302 | (2) | ||||||||
| Total | 77 | 3540000 | 203000 | 176000 | 1460000 | 2030000 | 7400000 | XX | ||||||||
| Percentage of total | (2) | 48 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 27 | 100 | XX | ||||||||
XX Not applicable. -- Zero.
1Table includes data available through April 22, 2025. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2Less than ½ unit.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Soda Ash statistics | Mineral commodity prices