The United States exported a total of 4.5 million tons of ethylene polymers through October 2017, down 3% from the prior year. The small decline was the net of lower shipments of LLDPE and HDPE, partly offset by gains on exports of LDPE, EVA and Ethylene Copolymers.
Category Archives: Trade Trends
Rise in US Imports of R-PE and R-PET
As US exports of recycle polyethylene and PET dropped to record low levels in October, 2017, US imports jumped, mainly on higher volumes from Canada and Mexico.
Global Trade in Ethylene Polymers Up 7%; North American Exports Down 8%
The volume of ethylene polymers traded globally was up 7% through September 2017, to over 43 million tons of LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, EVA and Copolymers shipped around the world.
China’s Recycle Polymer Imports Drop to Lowest Level in Over 4 Years
China’s imports of recycle PE, PP, PS, PVC and PET totaled 300,000 tons in October 2017, compared with volumes of over 700,000 tons earlier this year and a high of more than 800,000 tons late in 2013.
US Exports of LNG up 358%
The US exported 9.1 million tons of LNG through August 2017, up 358% from the same period in 2016. There were exports to many new markets, plus higher shipments to some of the same markets as in 2016.
LNG Global Trade Up 11%
Several major trade flows contributed to the 11% increase in the volume of LNG traded globally August 2017 YTD versus the same period last year. Continue reading
Recent Trends in Polyethylene Film and Sheet Global Trade
Global trade in PE film/sheet was nearly 5 million tons in 2016, up 7% from the prior year. Trade volume through July 2017 was up 6%. Trade within the regions of Western Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America, and also shipments between Western and Eastern Europe, are prominent trade patterns for PE film and sheet.
Sharply Lower US Exports of Recycle Polymers in July
United States exports of recycle polyethylene, polypropylene, PET and PVC all plummeted in July 2017.
LNG Global Trade up 11% Through July
The volume of liquefied natural gas traded globally through July 2017 exceeded 150 million tons, up 11% from last year, based on latest available trade statistics.
US Cyclohexane Exports up 52% Through June, Mainly on Western European Shipments
The United States exported 118,500 tons of cyclohexane through June 2017, up 52% from the same period in 2016. Shipments hit a new monthly high of 35,000 tons in May, but slowed to 8300 tons in June.