The decline in the global total is primarily attributable to substantially lower imports into China, which is not expected to be offset by higher imports into Turkey, India, Mexico and Pakistan, among others.
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China’s Commodity Polymer Imports Were Down 17% Through September, 2021; Exports Were Up 77%
China’s imports of all the major commodity polymer groups – PE, PP, PS, PVC, PET – continued depressed from last year’s levels; smaller volume exports, especially of PP, PVC and PET posted strong gains.
Continue readingP-Xylene Global Trade Volume has More Than Doubled Since 2010.
Expansion of Asia-Pacific intra-regional trade, mainly on demand in China, accounted for most of the growth in the global total.
Continue readingPropylene Polymer Imports into Eastern Europe Up by 1 Million tons From 2015
Imports of polypropylene, propylene copolymers and polyisobutylene into the geographic region of Eastern Europe increased from 3.3 million tons in 2015 to 4.3 million tons projected for 2021.
Continue readingThe Volume of LNG Traded Globally Expanded by Over 100 million tons from 2012-2020
Volume went from 233 million tons in 2012 to 338 million tons in 2020, with further gains projected for 2021.
Continue readingGlobal Trade in Caustic Soda Increased by 2.5 Million Tons from 2010 to 2020, With Additional Gains Projected for 2021
Key trends over the period that contributed to the increased volume were: higher exports from North America; increased imports into Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Western Europe; and, increased trade within Western Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Continue readingUS Exports of PVC Were Down 17% Through July; Further Declines Expected
The shutdown of several PVC facilities by Shintech, Westlake and Formosa Plastics due to Hurricane Ida will impact US exports, which were already down substantially from last year as of July.
Continue readingUS Imports of Several Commodity Polymers Set New Records in July 2021
Imports of propylene polymers, styrenic polymers, PVC and PET all hit new highs in July on strong demand and tight supplies. Imports of ethylene polymers also surged. Hurricane Ida’s recent impact on US production capability is expected to further aggravate domestic supplies, especially for PVC and styrenics, increasing imports and reducing exports.
Continue readingUS Imports of Propylene Polymers Reached a New High in June 2021. Exports Continued Low. Prices Soared.
The US imported 373,000 tons of PP homopolymer, copolymer and PIB through June 2021, up 70% from the same period in 2020. Exports over the period were 923,000 tons, down 8%.
Continue readingHDPE Global Trade Volume Was Down 8% in the First Half of 2021; Trade in Linear Polymer was off 3%.
These regional trends were the same for both polymers: lower imports into Western and Eastern Europe and, with the biggest impact on global trade volumes, Asia-Pacific; increased imports into the smaller markets of Africa and Latin America; reduced exports from North America; mixed trends for Middle East exports; higher exports from Asia-Pacific.
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