Over 9 million tons of benzene were traded globally in 2015, up 16% from 2014. Prominent regional trends during the year included: higher Asia-Pacific exports and also expanded trade within that region; increased imports into North America; increased imports into Western Europe; and, in the Middle East sharply higher trade, both imports and exports, with imports exceeding exports. Early data for 2016 indicates a continuation of these trends.
Category Archives: Trade Trends
Polypropylene Global Trade Trends
The volume of polypropylene homopolymer traded globally in 2015 was 17.3 million tons, up 3% from 2014. Imports into Asia-Pacific were unchanged from the prior year. Western Europe’s imports rose 21%; North America’s, 42%, but on small volumes. Data available to date for 2016 indicates a continuation of these trends.
Propylene Copolymers Global Trade Trends
Large volumes of both propylene copolymers and polypropylene homopolymer are traded globally. In 2015, propylene copolymer trade totaled 8.4 million tons, up 5%. This compared with 17.3 million tons of polypropylene homopolymer trade, up 3%.
Trends in North America’s Exports of Polyethylene
North America’s exports in 2015 versus 2014 were up by 10%-12% for LDPE and LLDPE, and by 32% for HDPE. Data through February 2016 indicates even higher percentage increases compared with the prior year. Imports of all three grades into the region were small and declined in 2015.
US Methanol Exports Set New Record Early in 2016
There has been an upward trend in United States exports of methanol for several months with shipments in both January and February 2016 at new record levels. Continue reading
Major Trends in Ethylene and Propylene Monomer Global Trade in 2015
The volume of ethylene monomer traded globally in 2015 was up 12% from 2014; propylene monomer trade expanded 11%. Much higher shipments from North America to Asia-Pacific, and substantially reduced exports from the Middle East to that region, were prominent features of global ethylene trade. North America also exported much higher volumes of propylene, but nearly all of it to Latin America. The Middle East increased its propylene exports to Asia-Pacific.
Major Trends in EVA Global Trade in 2015
The volume of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer traded globally in 2015 was up 10% from 2014, indicating a significant increase in global demand. Much higher imports into Asia-Pacific, sourced mainly from North America, Western Europe, and, with the largest percentage gain, the Middle East, plus expanded trade within the Asia-Pacific region, were the leading factor in the increase.
Major Trends in HDPE Global Trade in 2015
The volume of high density polyethylene traded globally in 2015 was up 8% from 2014, indicating a significant increase in global demand. A strong increase in exports from North America and moderately higher Middle East shipments were prominent trends.
China’s PET and PVC Polymer Exports Fall in 2015
PET and PVC are China’s largest commodity polymer exports but shipments of both were down substantially in 2015 versus 2014.
China Was A High Growth Import Market in 2015 for Benzene, Isopropanol, Cumene, P-Xylene, Methanol and VCM
China’s imports of these basic chemicals increased by 15% to 100% in 2015 versus 2014.