China imported 7.4 million tons of recycle polymer in 2015, down 11% from 2014. This compared with a 5% increase in imports in 2014 versus 2013, and an 11% decline also in 2013, the year stricter pollution controls went into effect.

China’s largest recycle polymer imports are polyethylene and PET.

Recycle polyethylene imports totaled 3.6 million tons, down 19%, the low cost of virgin polymer a factor in the decline in recycle.

Recycle PET polymer imports were 2 million tons, down 1%, noting that China exports substantial volumes of virgin PET, and imports relatively low volumes, as compared with virgin polyethylene.

From: International Trader Publications’ 2015 China Polymer World Trade Report