The conflict in the Middle East has shifted trade flows between regions. For India and Thailand, the shortfall from the Middle East was offset by increased supplies from Asia-Pacific, and, for polyethylene, also North America.

India imported 1.7 million tons of polyethylene (all grades) through July, up 2%, and 1.2 million tons of polypropylene, up 12%.

Thailand imported 564,000 tons of polyethylene (all grades) through August, up 29%, and 382,000 tons of polypropylene, up 24%. Thailand is also a major exporter, primarily within the Asia-Pacific region. Shipments of polyethylene of 1.5 million tons were down 16% through August; polypropylene, 624,000 tons, were down 13%.

From International Trader Publications’ World Trade Analyses on all grades of polymers of ethylene, propylene, styrene, VCM and PET, continuously updated based on latest statistics from all reporting countries.