Despite the rise, shipments were still 20% below the record high volumes exported in January 2021. There was also a marked change in export destinations by region between the two periods.
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Western Europe Exports to Russia More of Most Major Polymers than it Imports from Russia, with the Exception of Polypropylene.
Western Europe’s polymer trade with Russia, particularly in polyolefins, styrenic polymers and PVC, will be impacted by sanctions and broken supply chains from the war in Ukraine.
Continue readingRussia’s Leading Exports and Imports of Polymers, Chemicals and Gases
The war in Ukraine, and with it sanctions and broken supply chains, will likely impact both exports from and imports into Russia of many products.
Continue readingUkraine Exports and Imports Numerous Polymers and Chemicals that Will Likely be Impacted by the Conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukraine exports sizable volumes of benzene, caustic soda, propylene monomer and PVC, and, imports polyethylene, polypropylene, liquefied propane and butane gas and PET.
Ukraine’s top export markets include Italy, Poland, Turkey, Czech Rep., Russia and Spain, among others. Russia is Ukraine’s top import source for LDPE, polypropylene, methanol and liquefied propane and butane gas.
This table shows Ukraine’s total exports and imports in 2021 and top trading partners for each:
From International Trader Publications’ World Trade Analyses, continuously updated analysis of trade between countries and regions for each product.
Continue readingTrends in United States Exports of Recyclable Polymers
The US exported 557,000 tons of recyclable polymers in 2021, one-third the volume of what was shipped in 2017. In addition to a sharp decline in volume over that period, the distribution of US exports changed. Latin America and Canada now account for a greater share of the total, although Asia-Pacific remains the largest volume destination. Further declines in US exports to Asia-Pacific are likely given the decision by CMA CGM, the US’s largest shipper of these materials, to end shipments as of June 1, 2022.
Continue readingTrends in United States’ Trade in Commodity Polymers in 2021
Imports of commodity polymers into the US in 2021 were the highest volume ever reported, 7.0 million tons, an increase of 1 million tons, 16%, from the prior year. The increase in imports, and also the drop in US exports by 15%, to 14.2 million tons, reflected strong domestic demand, US production issues and logistical problems. Demand is likely to continue strong in 2022. New US capacity and the gradual resolution of supply chain issues will likely result in further declines in imports and rising exports.
Continue readingTrends in China’s Trade in Commodity Polymers in 2021
Unlike prior years, imports of commodity polymers did not surge into China toward yearend 2021 in advance of the Chinese Year slowdown. Also unusual was the sharp rise in exports out of China in December. The year ended with commodity polymer imports down 19%, to 27.5 million tons, and exports up 74%, to 8.9 million tons.
Continue readingTrends in Russia’s Exports of Polyolefins
Much lower exports to Asia-Pacific in 2021 versus 2020, due to a steep drop in shipments to China, shifted Russian exports toward Eastern Europe, Western Europe and, with smaller volumes, Latin America and Africa.
Continue readingThe Volume of Recyclable Polymers Traded Globally Increased in 2021 After Years of Declines
The increase in 2021 was unusual and may have related to virgin polymer shortages.
Continue readingGrowth in the Volume of Polyolefins Traded Globally was Arrested in 2021 by Supply Issues; a Rebound in 2022 is Likely as Supply Increases
The trend in global trade volume generally indicates the trend in demand for polymers that are widely traded, but this depends on supply availability. A strong upward trend was evident in global trade in 2019 and 2020 for linear polyethylene, HDPE and PP homopolymer, but not in 2021.
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