United States exports of propylene hit 61,000 tons in June, 2017, at an average price of $813/ton. Shipments YTD were up 31% from the same period in 2016.
Category Archives: Trade Trends
Ethylene Imports into China Back to Record Levels
China’s imports of ethylene jumped back up to nearly 200,000 tons in June 2017, at an average price of $1077/ton, after two months around 160,000 tons per month. Volume in the first half of the year was up 48% from the same period in 2016.
Global Trade in LPG up 4% June 2017 YTD: Higher Imports into Asia-Pacific and Western Europe
The volume of liquefied propane gas traded globally as imports and exports was up 4% through June 2017, to over 34 million tons. Increased imports into Asia-Pacific and Western Europe and higher exports from North America, Africa and Middle East were prominent trends.
Surge in US Exports of LNG to Latin America, Asia, Middle East and Europe
The United States exported nearly 7 million tons of liquefied natural gas through June 2017, versus minor volumes in the same period in 2016. Shipments were global, with large volumes to all regions except Africa. As US exports to Western Europe and Latin America increased, shipments from the Middle East and Africa to those regions dropped.
China Imports Butanes at Record Levels
After trending downward for most of 2016 and into early 2017 China’s imports of liquefied butane gases soared to a new record high of 557,000 ton in May and continued to rise in June, reaching 587,000 tons. Average prices slipped in both months, to $433/ton in June.
China’s End to Imports of Recycle Polymers Will Have Global Impact
If China cuts off all imports of recycle plastics, as reported in the media as possibly occurring as soon as 2018, the impact on recycling industries in the US, Europe and Asia of the loss of a market for 7.3 million tons of recycle polymer would be huge.
China’s Imports of Polyethylene from Iran
Through May, 2017, China imported a total of 5.4 million tons of ethylene polymers, up 17% from the same period in 2016. Iran supplied 823,000 tons, or 15%, of the total, down 7%. A restriction on imports into China from Iran, will likely be made up by Saudi Arabia, US, Korea and UAE, among others.
North America’s Trade in PE Film and Sheet
North America is a relatively small exporter and importer of PE film and sheet, compared with Western Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Recent Trends in Trade in PE Bags and Sacks
The volume of polyethylene bags and sacks (also includes cones) traded globally in 2016 was nearly 4 million tons, up 4% from the prior year. Trade volume through May is up 7%.
Recent Trends in Recycle Polyethylene Trade
The volume of recycle polyethylene traded globally was up 12% through May, 2017, mainly on higher imports into China, followed by gains in other Asia-Pacific markets.