China’s imports of recycle polyethylene totaled 1.4 million tons through May, 2015, down 23% from the prior year. This compared with a 7% increase in imports of virgin polyethylene, to 4.8 million tons. Imports of all grades of virgin PE were up, with particularly strong gains on HDPE and EVA, both of which set new volume records in March.

China’s imports May YTD: LDPE, 0.9 million tons, up 1%; LLDPE, 1.1 million tons, up 1%; HDPE, 2.2 million tons, up 10%; EVA, 0.3 million tons, up 23%.