China’s imports of recycle PET fell sharply in July, 2017, to 167,000 tons. This compared with monthly volumes as high as 275,000 tons within the last year. The average price picked up slightly, to $508/ton. Continue reading
Monthly Archives: August 2017
Global Butadiene Trade Volume Up 8% Through June 2017
Butadiene trade totaled over 1.3 million tons in the first half of 2017, up 8% from the same period in 2016. Prominent trends included increased imports into Asia-Pacific and expanded trade within the region, a strong increase in exports from Latin America, and lower exports from Western Europe.
US Propylene Exports Set New Record
United States exports of propylene hit 61,000 tons in June, 2017, at an average price of $813/ton. Shipments YTD were up 31% from the same period in 2016.
Ethylene Imports into China Back to Record Levels
China’s imports of ethylene jumped back up to nearly 200,000 tons in June 2017, at an average price of $1077/ton, after two months around 160,000 tons per month. Volume in the first half of the year was up 48% from the same period in 2016.
Global Trade in LPG up 4% June 2017 YTD: Higher Imports into Asia-Pacific and Western Europe
The volume of liquefied propane gas traded globally as imports and exports was up 4% through June 2017, to over 34 million tons. Increased imports into Asia-Pacific and Western Europe and higher exports from North America, Africa and Middle East were prominent trends.
Surge in US Exports of LNG to Latin America, Asia, Middle East and Europe
The United States exported nearly 7 million tons of liquefied natural gas through June 2017, versus minor volumes in the same period in 2016. Shipments were global, with large volumes to all regions except Africa. As US exports to Western Europe and Latin America increased, shipments from the Middle East and Africa to those regions dropped.
China Imports Butanes at Record Levels
After trending downward for most of 2016 and into early 2017 China’s imports of liquefied butane gases soared to a new record high of 557,000 ton in May and continued to rise in June, reaching 587,000 tons. Average prices slipped in both months, to $433/ton in June.