The availability of excess polypropylene polymer capacity plus constrained supplies from the conflict in the Middle East gave China an unprecedented opportunity to sell PP polymer and fabricated PP products globally.

After massive capacity additions, China became a net exporter of polypropylene in March 2024 (S&P Global) and has since marketed increasing volumes of polymer and fabricated PP products to all regions.

Setting new highs in the second quarter, China exported 2.6 million tons of polypropylene (all grades combined, below) through June 2026, up 63% from June 2025 YTD. Two-thirds of the total went to Asia-Pacific markets.

PP film/sheet, below, was China’s largest fabricated product export identifiable as specifically from polypropylene. A surge in shipments in the second quarter raised the June 2026 YTD total to 0.5 million tons, up 40%. Over 62% went to Asia-Pacific markets.

PP bags/sacks, below, were China’s second largest fabricated plastic product identifiable as polypropylene. Strong second-quarter shipments raised the June YTD total to 361,000 tons, up 19%. The US was the top destination. Asia-Pacific markets accounted for 40% of the total.

From International Trader Publications’ China Polymer Trade Report, a monthly analysis of China’s trade in all grades of polymers of ethylene, propylene, styrene, VCM and PET.