Global trade in DEG was down 9% through August, to 0.8 million tons based on earliest available data. Lower imports into China were a major factor.

China’s imports of diethylene glycol were down 16% through August, to 0.4 million tons, with import volume lowest in the first quarter, picking up moderately thereafter.

Imports from many sources were off, leading suppliers including: Saudi Arabia, 172,000 tons, down 18%; Taiwan, 93,000 tons, down 4%; and Kuwait, 33,000 tons, down 7%.

From International Trader Publications’ DEG World Trade Report. For more information: ITP@ITPweb.com.