Brazil is one of the earliest reporting countries and polyethylene is one of its biggest imports as well as a sizable export.

Brazil imported 278,000 tons of ethylene polymers through March 2020, up 5% from the first quarter of 2019. Import volumes have been high and steady around 90,000 tons per month for several months, including March. The US supplied 145,000 tons YTD, up 21%. Imports from Argentina were 80,000 tons, unchanged. Increased imports from the US negatively impacted volumes from Saudi Arabia which fell by 58%, to 8200 tons.

Brazil exported 181,000 tons of ethylene polymer through March, down 11%. Shipments to Western Europe fell by 13%, to 40,000 tons; exports to markets in Latin America were off 15%, to 90,000 tons.

From International Trader Publications Brazil Polymer Trade Report, an online analysis of Brazil’s trade in all commodity and recyclable polymers and key fabricated plastic products, published as soon as Brazil’s statistics are posted.