Tariffs will be lowered or eliminated on a number of chemical, polymer, rubber and plastic products, enhancing trade flows between the countries.
Continue readingMonthly Archives: February 2026
Recyclable Polymers Global Trade has Ranged Within Narrow Limits Between 2020 and 2025.
Trade volume for recyclable PE, styrenics and PVC has been relatively consistent over the last several years, despite changes in the amount of virgin polymer traded globally, fluctuations in the price of virgin polymer, government restrictions on imports of recyclable material, changing demand by brand owners, new technologies, and other factors. Trade flows between countries and regions have, however, changed.
Continue readingThe Volume of Recyclable Polyethylene Traded Globally from 2020-2025 Ranged Between 2.8 and 3.1 Million Tons per Year, but With Important Underlying Regional Shifts.
Prominent were: increased trade within Western Europe and Eastern Europe; higher exports from Western Europe and Eastern Europe to other regions; reduced trade within the Asia-Pacific region; and, reduced exports from North America.
Continue readingGlobal Trade in Virgin PET Polymer Soared in 2025; Trade in Recyclable PET Shrank.
China’s aggressive PET export expansion, the resulting oversupply and low prices, together with high operating costs and scaled back use of recycle content by brands, were factors reducing global trade in 2025 in recyclable PET to its lowest level in several years, and, the announcement of several rPET plant closures.
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