As of August 23, 2018 China imposed a 25% tariff on a number of products from the US, including HDPE, ethylene-alpha-olefins copolymers and EVA. The new tariffs did not reduce total US exports of ethylene polymers in August, which continued at record levels.

The US exported 619,000 tons of ethylene polymers in the month of August. This is a record high level that was first reached in June and which continued through August.

US exports of HDPE in August were largely unchanged at 218,000 tons. A drop in shipments to China from 35,500 tons in July to 26,500 tons in August was offset by gains to other markets.

US exports of EAOC in August also remained at the record level of 188,000 tons first reached in July, despite a drop in exports to China by 2000 tons, to 11,000 tons, from the prior month.

China is the top US export market for EVA and the US export total fell from 21,000 tons in July to 17,000 tons in August, mainly because of lower volumes to China.

From International Trader Publications: US Polymer Trade Report, a monthly report on US imports and exports of commodity polymers, recycle polymers and fabricated plastic products.