Category Archives: Trade Trends

China/Vietnam Trade in Several Major Polymers and Chemicals Unlikely to Include Significant Transshipments

A new trade agreement between the US and Vietnam lowers tariffs on goods imported into US from Vietnam as the country of origin but keeps tariffs high if the goods are transshipped from China. Trade between China and Vietnam does not indicate significant transshipments for polyolefins and other products.

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US Polyethylene Exports in May 2025 Continued Depressed on Lower China Trade

Chinese retaliatory tariffs on imports of polyethylene from the US resulted in a 24% drop in US shipments to China for the January – May 2025 period, to 822,000 tons. That decline was somewhat offset by higher volumes to other markets, resulting in a 4% increase in the US total, to 6.5 million tons YTD.

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New US Sanctions on Russian Petrochemical Exports, if Passed, Would: Impact Trade in Polyolefins, Liquefied Gases, Rubber and Other Products; Affect Many Importing Countries; and Cripple Russia’s Economy

The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, introduced in both the US Senate and the House of Representatives in April 2025, is currently in committee. Its enactment is far from certain and depends on negotiations toward peace between Russia and Ukraine. Were it to pass, the impact on Russia would be crippling because of the country’s reliance on exports of energy and related products.

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China to Raise Naphtha Imports to Counter Ethane and LPG Trade Uncertainties

Although trade tensions have decreased, the higher tariffs in effect and earlier supply disruptions impacting ethane and liquefied propane gas imports from the US have led China to double import quotas on naphtha, which is used mainly to make petrochemicals.

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China’s Surging PP Exports Have Sharply Reduced Korea’s Exports Within Asia-Pacific and Africa, but Not Yet in Europe

China and South Korea are early reporting countries with trade data currently available for April 2025. From January to April, China exported 1.0 million tons of polypropylene (all grades), up 17%; Korea shipped 1.2 million tons, down 9%.

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Liquefied Propane Gas Global Trade Continues Expanding and Adapting to Shifting Market Dynamics

LPG global trade expanded each year over the 2020 to 2024 period and continued through April 2025. Rising US exports, increasing demand globally for LPG as a petrochemical feedstock and a cleaner fuel, and the ban on EU imports from Russia were key market drivers.

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Vietnam Surges, Germany Slows: The Shifting Landscape of Recyclable Polymer Trade

Recyclable polymers constitute an important pillar of the circular economy, helping transform waste into valuable resources. This post delves into the trade trends of the four key recyclable polymer types distinguishable by HS code – Recyclable Polyethylene, Recyclable Styrenics, Recyclable PVC, and Other Recyclable Polymers – from 2020 to 2024. ‘Recyclable’ signifies post-consumer, post-industrial waste (not yet recycled).

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