Saudi Arabia is China’s top supplier of HDPE, LLDPE, MEG, DEG and styrene and also ships large volumes of polypropylene, liquefied butane gas and liquefied propane gas, among others. The recent attack on Saudi oil facilities will reduce exports of polymers and chemicals, at the same time as imports from the US are curtailed by punitive duties.
Continue readingMonthly Archives: September 2019
US Exports of Recycle Polymers Down 46% as of July 2019; Further Declines Likely From India’s Ban on Recycle Polymer Imports
The US shipped 406,000 tons of recycle polymers through July, 2019, down 46% from the same period in the prior year. China’s total ban on imports of recycle polymers as of 2018 was a key factor in the decline. Further declines in US exports are expected as India has announced it will also ban all recycle polymer imports.
Continue readingChina’s PE Imports Grow; Supplies from the US to Shrink Further
China imported 11 million tons of ethylene polymers through July, 2019, up 19% from the same period in the prior year. The US supplied 3.6% (397,000 tons) of the total, down from 5.2% (839,000 tons) at the end of 2018.
Continue readingUS Exports of MEG Head to Europe, Korea, Brazil
The United States shipped record amounts of MEG from May through July, 2019. Exports to several European markets, and also to Korea and Brazil, were up sharply.
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