Much lower exports to Asia-Pacific in 2021 versus 2020, due to a steep drop in shipments to China, shifted Russian exports toward Eastern Europe, Western Europe and, with smaller volumes, Latin America and Africa.
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The Volume of Recyclable Polymers Traded Globally Increased in 2021 After Years of Declines
The increase in 2021 was unusual and may have related to virgin polymer shortages.
Continue readingGrowth in the Volume of Polyolefins Traded Globally was Arrested in 2021 by Supply Issues; a Rebound in 2022 is Likely as Supply Increases
The trend in global trade volume generally indicates the trend in demand for polymers that are widely traded, but this depends on supply availability. A strong upward trend was evident in global trade in 2019 and 2020 for linear polyethylene, HDPE and PP homopolymer, but not in 2021.
Continue readingStrong Domestic Demand and Supply Constraints Reflected in US Polymer Imports and Exports Through November 2021 and also in US Imports of Fabricated Plastic Products.
US statistics through November show imports across all commodity polymers up 17% from the same period the year before, exports down 15%, and fabricated plastic product imports up 23%.
Continue readingWestern Europe’s Polyethylene Imports in 2021 Projected to Nearly Equal 2019 Pre-Pandemic Levels; Polypropylene Imports, to Exceed Those Levels
Imports of PE and PP from Eastern Europe increased in both 2020 and 2021. Large volumes of polymer were imported from the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, North America and other regions, despite widely discussed logistics issues.
Continue readingDespite US Sanctions, Iran Exported 1.96 million Tons of Ethylene Polymers Through August 2021, up 29%
China and Turkey were shipped 95% of the total volume, with 5% to many other countries, including several that attempt to comply with the sanctions.
Continue readingMEG Global Trade Volume Projected Down 9% in 2021, to 15.3 Million tons
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.
Continue readingChina’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.
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