Heroin is a legitimate export product listed in the Harmonized Tariff System manual. Global sales from heroin exporters totaled US$330.5 million during 2019. That dollar figure reflects a -45.2% decrease since 2015 and a -3.8% drop from 2018 to 2019.

The above metrics represent international sales for the legally registered and traded versions of the chemical product.

For research purposes, the 6-digit HTS code is 293911 for poppy straw concentrates, buprenorphine, codeine, dihydrocode and ethylmorphine.

Top Heroin Exporters

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of heroin during 2019.

1. United Kingdom: US$115.2 million (34.8% of total heroin exports)
2. Czech Republic: $46 million (13.9%)
3. Spain: $43.3 million (13.1%)
4. Switzerland: $26.7 million (8.1%)
5. United States: $19.6 million (5.9%)
6. Norway: $14 million (4.2%)
7. Turkey: $12 million (3.6%)
8. Australia: $11.4 million (3.5%)
9. Belgium: $10.6 million (3.2%)
10. Slovakia: $9.8 million (3%)
11. Italy: $8.5 million (2.6%)
12. Hungary: $4.6 million (1.4%)
13. Denmark: $4.3 million (1.3%)
14. Israel: $1.6 million (0.5%)
15. India: $910,000 (0.3%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.4% of globally exported heroin in 2019.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing exporters of heroin since 2015 were: India (up 227.3%), Switzerland (up 90%), Czech Republic (up 73.1%) and Australia (up 71.3%).

Four countries posted declines in their international sales of heroin: Turkey (down -74.4%), Belgium (down -70.1%), United Kingdom (down -68.8%) and Spain (down -10.7%).

 

See also Beer Exports by Country, Top Vodka Exporters and Wine Exports by Country

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on June 10, 2020

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on June 10, 2020