ITP Projects Higher Global Trade Volume in 2024 For Many Widely Traded Polymers and Chemicals

Although final trade statistics for 2024 will not be available for many countries until March of 2025, ITP’s analysis of trends for individual countries indicates expanded global trade volume in 2024 for the majority of products. Increased global trade generally indicates increased demand.

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ITP Adds New World Trade Analysis of Ethanol

ITP frequently adds new World Trade Analyses for products of particular interest to subscribers. The Ethanol World Trade Analysis has been added. It captures nearly all of the world’s trade volume in ethanol, both undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcohol strength equal to or greater than 80%, combined with denatured ethyl alcohol of any strength. Volatility in regional and country trade flows is particularly evident for this product, which, being based on biomass, is subject to weather, climate, government mandates and other factors.

Polyethylene is Traded Globally in Three Forms

Global trade in virgin polyethylene, fabricated polyethylene products and recyclable polyethylene is quantifiable and gives a more complete understand of trends for this polymer.

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US Dockworkers Strike Would have Impacted Large Volumes of PE and PVC Polymer Exports

The strike begun at midnight, September 30th, by the International Longshoreman’s Association, and ended a few days later, had the potential to disrupt US polymer exports, particularly of polyethylene and PVC, particularly large volumes of which are shipped out of Houston-Galveston, Texas.

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Trends in US Exports of LNG, Liquefied Propane, Ethane, and Butane

Through July, 2024, the United States exported 53.1 million tons of LNG, up 2% from the same period in the prior year. The US also exported large volumes of other gases, some of which are produced during natural gas processing: 28.5 million tons of liquefied propane gas, up 10%, 5.8 million tons of liquefied ethane, down 3%, and 4.8 million tons of liquefied butane gas, down 2%.The US Energy Information Agency says that five new LNG export projects are under construction in the US, with shipments from two projects lilkely to begin at the end of 2024.

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Major Trends in China’s Polymer Trade August 2024 YTD: Low Polyolefin Imports; Growing Polymer Exports; Record Shipments of Plastic Products

A slow economy, weak domestic demand and the availability of new capacity are reflected in China’s polymer trade. Through August, China imported 15.9 million tons of commodity polymers, unchanged from the same period last year and substantially lower than in earlier periods; exported growing volumes, with 9.9 million tons shipped through August, up 27%; and, shipped a record 12.5 million tons of identifiable plastic products, up 17%. Commodity polymers include polyolefins, styrenics, vinyl polymers and PET.

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Most Widely-Traded Petrochemicals and Related Products Will Show Increased Global Trade Volume September 2024 YTD Versus September 2023 YTD

Gains or declines in global trade volume have wide-ranging implications for shippers, producers, marketers and planners.

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Iran’s Petrochemical Exports Expand in the First Half of 2024.

Methanol, polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE) and mono-ethylene glycol were Iran’s leading petrochemical exports (excluding liquefied gases) in the first half of 2024. Shipments of each were up versus the same period in 2023, mainly on increased exports to China.

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Petrochemical Trade – Turkey Aims to Accelerate Free Trade Negotiations with the GCC, Potentially Impacting 1.8 Million Tons of Polyolefin Imports – International Trader Publications

Turkey imported 668,000 tons of polyethylene and 1.1 million tons of polypropylene from the GCC in 2023. The duty rate was 6.5% on virtually all grades.

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