On May 18, 2025 China set a rate of 74.9% on imports of polyacetals from the US, 34.5% on imports from EU, and varying rates on imports from Japan and Taiwan. Imports from Japan were set a duty of 35.5%, except for Asahi Kasei, with a company-specific rate of 24.5%; imports from Taiwan were at 32.6%, except for Formosa Plastics, at 4%, and Polyplastics, at 3.8%.
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China’s Polymer Trade in April 2025: Record Exports, Low Imports, Huge Challenges Ahead
Following the traditional Chinese New Year slowdown in February, China’s exports of all the commodity polymers – PE, PP, PVC, Styrenics, and PET – rebounded to record levels in March and continued strong in April. Exports of fabricated products also were high. Imports were flat. Major headwinds are expected to impact exports in the coming months.
Continue readingBrazil’s Commodity Polymer Imports May be Peaking
Brazil’s commodity polymer imports have surged 86% over the past three years—from 648,000 tons in April 2022 YTD to 1.2 million tons through April 2025—with polyethylene and polypropylene accounting for the bulk of the volume. That trend may be reversing.
Continue readingThe US Eyes Tougher Sanctions on Countries Importing Iranian Petrochemicals
While US sanctions currently target specific companies that facilitate exports of Iranian oil, Washington is weighing a broader move: sanctions on countries that import Iranian petrochemicals. This potential escalation could impact ethylene glycol, methanol, polyethylene, and liquefied butane and propane gases, among others, with wide-ranging implications for global trade flows. Iranian export statistics show China as the largest destination for these products. Volumes do not, however, correlate with China’s import statistics.
Continue readingChina Exported Record Volumes of PE, PP, PS, PVC, and PET in March 2025. Shipments of Fabricated Plastic Products Also Surged. Imports Remained Low.
China’s exports of commodity polymers have surged each March in 2021 – 2025 following the Chinese New Year slowdown in February. March of 2025 was the highest volume ever recorded, new capacity and an uncertain trade environment adding to the strong growth trend from 2024.
Continue readingAfrica’s ABS, SAN, Polyacetal, Polycarbonate, PMMA and PET Trade in 2024: Key Trends and Regional Shifts
Africa’s only sizable exports of engineering polymers are PET.
The region’s imports of PET are much larger. The region also imports small volumes of ABS, SAN, Polyacetal, PC, and PMMA.
Continue readingEastern Europe’s ABS, SAN, Polyacetal, Polycarbonate, PMMA and PET Trade in 2024: Key Trends and Regional Shifts
Eastern Europe shipped substantially higher volumes of PET in 2024, mainly on trade with Western Europe. Smaller volume exports of ABS also were up, Asia-Pacific trade accounting for the growth. Exports of SAN, Polyacetal, PC and PMMA contracted.
The region was the world’s largest importing region for ABS and SAN, and the second largest for PC and PMMA. Imports of all of the engineering polymers were up in 2024.
Continue readingWestern Europe’s ABS, SAN, Polyacetal, Polycarbonate, PMMA, and PET Trade in 2024: Key Trends and Regional Shifts
Western Europe exported roughly 25% more ABS, SAN, Polyacetal, and PET polymer in 2024 than in 2023. Exports of PC and PMMA grew 5%.
Imports of PET film/fiber grade jumped 24%; polycarbonates, 12%. Import trends for other polymers were mixed.
Continue readingImports of Nearly All Widely Traded Polymers and Chemicals are NOT Exempt from the New Tariffs Announced by the US on April 2, 2025
The tariff situation is rapidly evolving. The Executive Order announced by the White House on April 2, 2025 to go into effect April 5 imposed a 10% general tariff on nearly all products imported into the US. This was to be followed by additional tariffs that would vary depending on the country. All of these may change as a result of currently ongoing negotiations.
In Annex II to the Executive Order, the White House exempted certain strategic goods. Most organic chemicals, polymers, and fabricated plastic products are not on this list and are not exempt.
Continue readingUS-China Polyethylene Tariffs: History, Market Effects, and New Developments
In 2018, the US imposed tariffs on Chinese goods and China retaliated with a 25% tariff on PE imports from the US. This caused a drop in China’s imports from US in 2019 but this was followed by a resurgence in mid-2020 through mid-2021, aided in part by Covid-19-related demand. Imports from the US slowed in 2021 as China expanded capacity, but volumes began climbing again and reached a peak in 2023 at 2.8 million tons. This slowed to 2.6 million tons in 2024. From 2022 through 2024 China’s total annual imports were steady, roughly around 17 million tons per year. The increased US share of the total was at the expense of reduced supplies from the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Further declines in China’s PE imports from the US are likely in 2025 because of new tariffs and expanding capacity in China.
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