Much higher shipments to China accounted for most of the sharp increases in Korea’s exports of propylene, up 93% through June 2012, to 579,000 tons, and exports of ethylene, up 44%, to 441,000 tons.

Korea exported 144,000 tons of EVA June YTD, up 54%, and 142,000 tons of LDPE, up 27%. There were sizable percentage increases also on exports of polyacetals, up 15%, polycarbonates, up 13%, HDPE, up 15%, polypropylene, up 10%, uncompounded PVC, up 18%, and styrene, up 15%.

There were declines, however, on South Korea’s exports of ABS, down 12%, PET, down 2%, and LLDPE, down 22%.