Global trade in PE film/sheet rose 8% in 2025, to 7.4 million tons; trade in PE bags/sacks grew by 6%, to 5 million tons. This followed gains of about 6% per product in 2024 vs 2023.

Several states in the US have enacted bans on single-use PE bags. Similar bans are in place in the EU, as well as other countries. Excluding Asia-Pacific, however, every world region imported higher volumes of both product groups. Asia-Pacific was the leading regional exporter, noting, especially, shipments from China, Vietnam, India and Thailand.

From International Trader Publications’ World Trade Analyses on global trade in PE Film/Sheet and PE Bags/Sacks, continuously updated analyses based on latest statistics from all available countries.