Category Archives: Trade Trends

Trends in Polyethylene Global Trade

The volume of polyethylene traded globally expanded strongly from 2013 through 2019 but then slowed and, in 2021 and 2022, contracted.

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Trends in EDC and VCM Global Trade

Global trade volume for both EDC and VCM trended upward from 2018 through 2020 but then diverged, with profound changes in regional, and country, imports and exports over the period.

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Caustic Soda Global Trade 2018-2022: Steady Volume; Huge Increase in Asia-Pacific Exports.

The volume of caustic soda in aqueous solution traded globally has ranged narrowly between 20.2 and 21.4 million tons per year from 2018 to 2022. During that period Asia-Pacific exports to other regions increased 270%, particularly impacting exports out of North America and the Middle East.

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Vietnam is a Major Importer of Many Polymers, Chemicals and Related Products

Polyolefins, PTA, liquefied propane gas, soda ash, PVC, MEG, PET and methanol were leading imports, with sizable volumes also of recyclable PE, ABS, polycarbonates and caustic soda.

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Expansion in Iran’s Exports of Liquefied Gases and Chemicals

Iran is a major exporter of liquefied gases and chemicals and the country’s shipments of these products have risen dramatically over the last five years.

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China’s Commodity Polymer Trade February 2023 YTD

China’s imports through February 2023 of polyethylene, China’s largest commodity polymer import, showed no change versus February 2022 YTD. Imports of polypropylene posted a moderate increase. On the export side, however, China shipped substantially more of each major commodity polymer than in the same period in 2022.

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