China surprised many again in 2012, importing significantly higher volumes of virgin polyolefins than in 2011, supplementing virgin polymer imports with record high amounts of scrap and waste polymers, and, expanding exports of fabricated plastic products for the fourth year in a row. Continue reading
Author Archives: JJSUDOL
PVC Global Trade Volume Projected to be up 3% in 2012
PVC imports into Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East are projected to be up by 6%-12% in 2012; exports from Western Europe, up 9%; exports from Latin America, up 24%; exports from North America, up 2%. There have been significant shifts in trade flows between regions. Continue reading
MEG and DEG Global Trade Volume Likely to End the Year Up Slightly
Global trade volume is projected to be up 2% for both MEG and DEG in 2012 versus 2011. Robust import demand in Asia-Pacific was offset by declines in Europe and the Americas. For widely traded products, global trade is an indicator of apparent demand. Continue reading
China’s Polymer Imports Climb at Yearend
China’s imports of virgin polyolefins picked up in November, with further gains likely in December. Continue reading
Polycarbonates, SAN and EVA are Projected by ITP to Show Highest Gains in Global Trade Volume in 2012
Global trade in polycarbonates, which reflects global demand, is projected by ITP to be up 13% in 2012 from 2011. SAN trade volume is projected to be up 10%; EVA trade volume, up 8%. Continue reading
ITP’s Yearend 2012 Projections Show Large Percentage Increases on Polyolefin Imports into Western and Eastern Europe
Western Europe’s imports of LLDPE from the Middle East are projected by ITP to show an 18% increase by yearend 2012 versus 2011. Imports of polypropylene are projected to be up 30%. Continue reading
China’s Polymer Trade Shows Moderate Gains YTD
Despite typical declines in October, China’s imports of virgin and scrap commodity polymers and exports of fabricated plastic products are up 5-6% year to date. Continue reading
Projected Yearend Trade: Polypropylene and Propylene Copolymers
Polypropylene yearend 2012 trade volume is projected to be up 2%; propylene copolymers trade volume, up 5%. Middle East exports surge. Continue reading
Projected Yearend Trade: Polyethylene
Global trade volume for the full year 2012 is projected to be up 7% for HDPE and 3% for LDPE, but down 2% for LLDPE. Higher Middle East exports play a key role.
Continue reading
New Global Trade Coverage of PMMA
Because of the importance of PMMA in numerous end use applications, ITP has launched a new publication that provides comprehensive monthly coverage of PMMA polymer and sheet trade flows between countries and regions. The publication is based on detailed trade statistics from over 50 countries and captures nearly all of the world’s trade.
The first issue was published in September and covers trade through June 2012. Some of the trends visible in the first issue were:
1. The volume of PMMA polymer traded worldwide through June was 282,000 tons, down 2% from the same period last year. The volume of PMMA sheet traded was 258,000 tons, down 14%.
2. Eastern Europe was the world’s highest volume importing region for PMMA; North America, Western Europe and Eastern Europe were the leading importers of sheet.
3. China was the world’s top importing country for polymer, 112,746 tons, up 2%, and also for sheet, 48,800 tons, down 40%.
4. Asia-Pacific exports of PMMA polymer to Western Europe have nearly doubled year to date.
5. Asia-Pacific exports of PMMA sheet year to date have increased to Eastern Europe, North America, and, with the highest percentage gains, Latin America and the Middle East.