Polypropylene homopolymer global trade is projected at 22.5 million tons in 2025, up 2% from 2024; propylene copolymers trade adds another 10.3 million tons, unchanged. ITP’s projections for global trade volume have consistently been within two percentage points of actual.

ITP’s projections for 2025 show the Middle East, mainly Saudi Arabia with smaller volumes out of UAE and Oman, expanding both PP homopolymer and copolymer exports to Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Africa. Asia-Pacific also makes gains in Europe, but not Africa.

The Middle East’s top export destination remains Asia-Pacific, PP exports to the region projected at 2.1 million tons, down 10%; PRC, 0.7 million tons, up 10%.

China’s new capacity has greatly impacted other suppliers in the region, particularly South Korea, based on August 2025 YTD exports published by each country:

From International Trader Publication’s World Trade Analyses of global trade in polypropylene and copolymers, and, from the China Polymer Trade Report and the Korea Polymer Trade Report.