China’s imports of ethylene polymers slowed only slightly for the New Year holiday in February and then shot to a new record in March 2019. Exports of fabricated plastic products, however, fell sharply in February, with only a partial rebound in March.
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Update on the US – China Trade War
Late on Friday, May 3, a diplomatic cable from China to Washington edited out core provisions from the 150-page draft agreement that had been the result of months of negotiations between the two countries. Instead of a signing ceremony possibly by the end of May, the US will now raise duties from 10% to 25% on $200 B of imports from China at 12:01 AM on May 10th and may apply duties to an additional $325 B that have not yet been hit with duties – essentially impacting everything the US imports from China.
Continue readingTrends in Eastern Europe’s Trade in Expandable Polystyrene in 2018
Continued growth in expandable polystyrene demand in Eastern Europe was evident from both the region’s higher intra-regional trade and also higher imports over the last three years from 2015 through 2018. For the first time over that period, in 2018 Eastern Europe’s imports from Western Europe slipped.
Continue readingChina’s Commodity Polymer Imports up 20% through February 2019, despite the Chinese New Year Slowdown
China imported 4.6 million tons of commodity polymers – PE, PP, PS, PVC and PET – through February 2019, up 20% from the same period in 2018.
Continue readingChina’s LNG Imports up 19% Through February 2019
Despite a steep drop in imports in February 2019 due to the Chinese New Year holiday, as well as slowing winter demand, China’s imports year to date, 10.9 million tons, were up 19% from the same two-month period in 2018.
Continue readingStrong Start to 2019 for US Polyethylene Exports
US exported 709,000 tons of ethylene polymers in January, 2019, a new monthly record. This was up 44% from the prior January. The average price fell to $1225/ton.
Continue readingThe Trade War and Polyolefin Film/Sheet; PE Bags/Sacks
US imports from China of PE and PP film/sheet are a relatively small factor in the global total. US imports of PE bags and sacks from China, however, are substantially larger. All of these products are involved in the US/China trade war.
Continue readingWestern Europe’s Trade in HDPE in 2018
Trends in Western Europe’s HDPE intra-regional trade, exports and imports indicated a long position for the region by yearend 2018.
Continue readingWestern Europe’s Trade in Low Density Polyethylene in 2018
Western Europe imports and exports low density polyethylene as three main grades: conventional high pressure PE; linear PE; and ethylene-alpha-olefins copolymers (EAOC), which is also linear. The trends in intra-regional trade, exports and imports for these polymers indicated a slightly long position for the region by year end.
Continue readingTrends in Asia-Pacific Trade in Butadiene in 2018
Lower imports into Asia-Pacific’s two top markets, Korea and China, were reflected in the region’s trade in 2018. Imports from other regions were down and intra-regional trade volume was flat with the prior year.
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