Korea’s ethylene exports plummeted with the start of the Iranian conflict. The restructuring will result in further declines.
Continue readingChina Exported Record Volumes of PP Polymer and Also Fabricated PP Film/Sheet and PP Bags/Sacks in the First Half of 2026.
The availability of excess polypropylene polymer capacity plus constrained supplies from the conflict in the Middle East gave China an unprecedented opportunity to sell PP polymer and fabricated PP products globally.
Continue readingChina Exported Record Volumes of PE Polymer and Also Fabricated PE Film/Sheet and PE Bags/Sacks in the First Half of 2026.
Constrained supplies of polymer and feedstocks from the Middle East provided China with opportunities to sell PE polymer and fabricated PE products globally.
Continue readingBrazil’s PE Import Sources Shifted Dramatically June 2026 YTD vs 2025; Much Lower Volumes From North America Largely Offset by Surge in PE from APAC, Middle East, and Others
Anti-dumping duties on North American suppliers and disruption in Middle East supply were major factors.
Continue readingGlobal PVC Trade (Compounded and Uncompounded) Rose 5% to 8.2 Million Tons Through May 2026 as Exports From China, Korea, and Thailand Soared
India and Vietnam were key export destinations, but shipments to numerous destinations were up, particularly countries in Eastern Europe and Africa. Trade within the Asia-Pacific region expanded by 13%, to 2.8 million tons.
Continue readingPE Global Trade Down 4% May 2026 YTD: Lower Exports From the Middle East Partly Offset by Higher Shipments From APAC; North American Shipments Flat as Regional Flows Shifted
Polyethylene global trade (all grades combined) is projected at 29.0 million tons through May 2026, a decline of 1.4 million tons from May 2025 YTD.
Continue readingMethanol Global Trade Down 12% May 2026 YTD vs 2025 on Much Lower Middle East Exports to Asia-Pacific and Western Europe
Through May 2026, 13.2 million tons of methanol were traded globally, a decline of 1.9 million tons from May 2025 YTD.
Continue readingAnhydrous Ammonia Global Trade Down 14% May 2026 YTD vs 2025 on Much Lower Middle East Exports; North American and Chinese Shipments Surged
Anhydrous ammonia global trade is projected at 6.6 million tons through May 2026, down from 7.2 million tons May 2025 YTD.
Continue readingTrends in Polyethylene Film/Sheet Global Trade 2015-2025
The volume of PE film/sheet traded globally increased by 2.6 million tons from 2015 to 2025. Imports into every region grew, as did trade within each region. Shipments by suppliers in Asia-Pacific and Eastern European surged. Trade flows in 2026 will be impacted heavily by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Continue readingTrends in Polyethylene Bags/Sacks Global Trade 2015-2025
Global trade generally trended higher over the ten-year period, volume in 2025 at 5 million tons, up from 3.8 million tons in 2015. Key regional changes included much higher imports into Western Europe and North America, expanded exports out of Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe, and increased intra-regional trade within virtually all regions. As bags and sacks are an important end-use for PE polymer, trade flows are being impacted by the on-going the Middle East conflict, especially in Asia-Pacific.
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