Versus the prior year, global trade volume through June 2013 was down 10% for PMMA polymer, and down 1% for sheet. Lower imports into China of both materials were factors.

As the world’s largest importer by far of PMMA polymer and sheet, trends in China impact global trade volume. Through June, 2013, China imported nearly 100,000 tons of PMMA polymer, a decline of 13% from last year. Imports of sheet were 40,000 tons, down 14%. The latest data available for China, however,  generally shows an upward trend in China’s imports in July and August.