Imports were at record levels for most of the second half of 2017.

Imports by grade were: 2.4 million tons of conventional high pressure low density polyethylene, 3.3 million tons of linear low density; 6.4 million tons of high density and 1.4 million tons of EVA plus other ethylene copolymers.

The Middle East supplied 6.81 million tons of ethylene polymers, up 19%; other Asia-Pacific, 4.76 million tons, up 13%; North America 0.82 million tons, up 23%; Western Europe, 0.44 million tons, up 22%; Latin America, 0.34 million tons, up 65%; Eastern Europe, 0.25 million tons, up 8%.

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.