This new Report tracks the movement of liquefied butanes between all importing and exporting countries and regions. In 2016, trade volume was 35 million tons, up 1% from 2015. Preliminary data shows volume March 2017 YTD up 6%.

Imports into Asia-Pacific were 17 million tons in 2016, up 2%. The Middle East supplied 15 million tons of the total, down 1%. North America’s exports to the region jumped 73%, to 1.3 million tons. Africa’s exports to Asia-Pacific, although substantial, dropped by 25%, to 560,000 tons.

India was Asia-Pacific’s top importer with over 5 million tons last year, up 6%. Other major import markets included China, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan.

The Middle East exported over 16 million tons of butanes in 2016, down 2% on declines to both Asia-Pacific and Africa.

North America exported 2.7 million tons in 2016, the large increase to Asia-Pacific partly offset by a slight decline in shipments to Latin America and a steeper drop off in volumes to Africa.

Note: US exports set a new monthly record in March 2017 of over 500,000 tons.

From International Trader Publications: Liquefied Butanes World Trade Report