China’s exports of commodity polymers have surged each March in 2021 – 2025 following the Chinese New Year slowdown in February. March of 2025 was the highest volume ever recorded, new capacity and an uncertain trade environment adding to the strong growth trend from 2024.

China’s shipments of virgin commodity polymers were 4.4 million tons March 2025 YTD, up 24% from the first quarter of 2024. Imports of 5.9 million tons contracted 1%. Exports of fabricated plastic products jumped 12%, to 4.7 million tons.

PET, PVC and PP were China’s largest polymer exports, higher volumes shipped to nearly every world region. Vietnam, Indonesia and UAE were leading volume and growth destinations for PET; India, Vietnam, Russia and UAE for PVC; Vietnam, Bangladesh, Thailand and Peru for PP.

PE continued as China’s highest volume polymer import, 4.3 million tons March YTD, up 2%. PP was next, 955,000 tons, down 1%. Imports of PE from UAE increased but other leading sources, including the US and Saudi Arabia, were down. PP imports from Korea, Singapore and UAE all were down.

From International Trader Publications’ China Polymer Trade Report, a monthly analysis of China’s imports and exports of all grades of commodity polymers, recyclable polymers and fabricated plastic products.