Following the traditional Chinese New Year slowdown in February, China’s exports of all the commodity polymers – PE, PP, PVC, Styrenics and PET – rebounded to record levels in March and continued strong in April. Exports of fabricated products also were high. Imports were flat. Major headwinds are expected to impact exports in the coming months.

Year-to-date (April 2025), China’s shipments of virgin commodity polymers hit 6.1 million tons, a significant 25% increase from the same period in 2024. Exports of fabricated plastic products also saw a substantial jump of 11%, reaching 6.5 million tons.

PET, PVC and PP led the export surge, with higher volumes shipped to nearly every world region. PET key growth destinations included Vietnam, Indonesia, UAE, Korea and Russia. India was the recipient of nearly 40% of China’s PVC exports, with Vietnam, Russia, Nigeria, UAE and many others receiving the remainder. Shipments of PP were also widespread globally, headed by Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, Peru, Kenya and Brazil.

China’s exports of fabricated plastic products included large shipments to the US of many products that would be impacted by additional tariffs: PE bags/sacks, PE film/sheet, PP bags and sacks, PVC floor/wall coverings, tableware, household products, and builders’ ware. It is unlikely that alternative markets can be found quickly for these products.

While exports soared, China’s imports of commodity polymers remained stable at 8.0 million tons through April, unchanged vs. the prior YTD period. PE continued to be China’s highest volume polymer import at 5.8 million tons, up 4%, higher volumes from UAE, up 38%, and Saudi Arabia, up 2%, offsetting declines from the US and Korea, among others. Although PE imports from the US were down 2%, it was China’s top supplier, with 990,000 tons. This ranking is expected to change in the coming months.

PP imports, the next largest, saw a 1% decline, to 1.3 million tons, on reduced volumes from Korea, Singapore and the UAE.

China’s polymer production capacity, especially for PE, PP and styrenics, has grown rapidly and additional capacity is planned. However, in the face of a weak domestic economy and major uncertainty from new US tariffs, it is likely that capacity additions will be delayed and that exports in May will be down.

From International Trader Publications’ China Polymer Trade Report.