An increase in the amount of material being traded globally generally indicates an increase in demand. ITP currently projects global trade volume to be up 4% to 10% in 2014 from 2013 for a number of heavily traded polymers and chemicals. The highest percentage increases in trade volume, 7-10%, are projected for EDC, PET, ethylene copolymers, EVA and DEG.

Gains of 4%-6% are projected for benzene, polyacetals, polycarbonates and PMMA polymer and sheet. Smaller increases are projected for each of the polyolefins except LLDPE, which is unchanged.

Global trade volume is projected to contract for polystyrene, PVC and ethylene monomer.