US exports of polyethylene, all grades combined, reached 15.7 million tons in 2025, up from 13.8 million tons in 2023, based on US export statistics.

Mexico was the leading growth market in Latin America. Other growth markets in the region included Colombia, Peru, Chile and Ecuador. Shipments to Brazil slowed as the result of tariffs and provisional anti-dumping duties.

The highly competitive US feedstock position in ethane as compared with European naphtha even with lower oil prices, as discussed by INEOS, supported higher PE volumes to Europe, including to Belgium, Italy, Spain and Turkey.

Asia-Pacific continued as the US’s second largest export destination. Increased domestic production in China, which is projected to grow further and account for 25% of all PE global capacity additions by 2030, resulted in lower US exports to China but gains elsewhere, noting especially Vietnam, India and Taiwan.

From International Trader Publications’ US Polymer Trade Report, a monthly analysis of US trade in all grades of PE, PP, styrenics, PVC, PET, recyclable polymers and major fabricated plastic products.