Volume went from 233 million tons in 2012 to 338 million tons in 2020, with further gains projected for 2021.
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Global 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.
Continue readingIndia’s Imports of Commodity Polymers Hit a New High in April 2021; Exports Remain Low
The surge in imports in April continued an upward trend visible since the last half of 2020.
Continue readingChina’s Imports of Commodity Polymers Through June 2021 Were Down 11% From the First Half of 2020; Exports Jumped 87%.
After a brief spike in March following the Chinese New Year, imports into China trended downward, a different trend than had been seen over the last three years. Also unusual were exports out of China, which began rising toward the end of 2020 and soared to unprecedented levels in the first half of 2021.
Continue readingHuge Increases in Brazil’s Imports of Polyethylene, Polypropylene and PVC Through June 2021
Brazil’s imports soared to record levels in the last half of 2020 and continued there through June of 2021. Exports during the period fell to record lows.
Continue reading2.2 Million Tons of Ethylene Trade Was Added Globally From 2010 – 2019, but was Followed in 2020 by a Sharp Contraction.
The volume of ethylene traded globally rose from 5.8 million tons in 2010 to a high of 8 million tons in 2019, then slowed to 7.4 million tons in 2020 because of the pandemic. Regional trade flows shifted dramatically during that period.
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