Category Archives: Trade Trends

Propylene Copolymers: Current Global Trade Trends

The volume of propylene copolymers traded globally, 3.2 million tons, was up 8% through May, 2015 from the prior year, based on reporting countries. (This compares with a 3% increase in exports of polypropylene homopolymer for the period.) Shipments increased from each of the top four exporting regions: Western Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and North America. Exports from the Middle East had the highest percentage increase.

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Polypropylene: Current Global Trade Trends

The volume of polypropylene homopolymer traded globally, 6.1 million tons, was up 3% through May 2015 versus the prior year. Shipments from the Middle East and Western Europe were up; North America’s contracted slightly; exports from Eastern Europe jumped by over 50%.

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LLDPE: Current Global Trade Trends

The volume of LLDPE polymer traded globally, 3.7 million tons, was unchanged through May 2015 from the prior year, based on reporting countries.  Among the top exporting regions, shipments from the Middle East and Western Europe were down slightly; exports from North America were sharply lower.

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LDPE: Current Global Trade Trends

The volume of LDPE polymer traded globally, 4.4 million tons, was up 3% through May, 2015, based on reporting countries. Expanded trade within Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and increased imports into Latin America and Eastern Europe were factors in the higher global trade volume. Shipments by two of the top three exporting regions, Middle East and North America, were down, and shipments from Western Europe were unchanged,  lower volumes to Asia-Pacific a factor.  Continue reading

HDPE: Current Global Trade Trends

The volume of HDPE polymer traded globally, 7.3 million tons, was up 5% through May, 2015, based on reporting countries. Among the top exporting regions, shipments from the Middle East, Western Europe and Asia-Pacific increased; North America’s were down; markets shifted between exporters.  Continue reading

Huge jump in China’s polyolefin imports

The end of the Chinese New Year holiday, low prices, plus a new government stimulus effort and the anticipation of additional measures to come, resulted in a massive increase in China’s imports of polyolefin and other polymers in March, 2015. Continue reading