In contrast to trends in China, India’s imports of many basic chemicals and polymers posted large percentage increases through the third quarter of 2015 versus the same period in 2014.

India’s imports were up by 22% to 35% through September for ABS, acrylonitrile, acetone,  caprolactam, methanol, HDPE, polypropylene, VCM and toluene. There was a 56% increase in imports of bisphenol-A.

Smaller gains, ranging from 6% to 19%, were on imports of acetic acid, EDC, isopropyl alcohol, maleic anhydride, n-butyl alcohol, LDPE, LLDPE, phenol, propylene copolymers and styrene.

MEG and p-xylene imports were both off 3%. India’s smaller volume exports of MEG rose 19%; exports of p-xylene were up 11%.

From: International Trader Publications’ World Trade Reports.