Monthly import volume fell to 64,000 tons in December, the price steady throughout the fourth quarter around $490/ton.

This compared with imports of over 250,000 tons per month through most of 2016 and early 2017.

Most of China’s R-PET imports in 2017 were supplied by other Asia-Pacific countries: 1.6 million tons, down 16%.

Imports from other leading regional sources were: Western Europe, 170,000 tons, down 6%; North America, 166,000 tons, down 13%; Latin America, 101,000 tons, down 26%.

From International Trader Publications’ China Polymer Trade Report – an on line analysis of China’s imports and exports of virgin commodity polymers, recycle polymers and fabricated plastic products.