The volume of ethylene monomer traded globally in 2015 was up 12% from 2014; propylene monomer trade expanded 11%. Much higher shipments from North America to Asia-Pacific, and substantially reduced exports from the Middle East to that region, were prominent features of global ethylene trade. North America also exported much higher volumes of propylene, but nearly all of it to Latin America. The Middle East increased its propylene exports to Asia-Pacific.

Based on data for the year, which is nearly complete, global ethylene trade volume in 2015 was 6.8 million tons, up 12%. Global propylene volume was 7.9 million tons, up 11%.

North America’s ethylene exports to Asia-Pacific totaled 66,000 tons, up from minor volumes the year before. The Middle East’s exports to the region fell by 67%, to 115,000 tons.

North America’s propylene exports soared in the second half of the year on a 223% jump to Latin America, to 212,000 tons, and increased volumes to Western Europe, versus negligible exports the year before. The Middle East shipped 194,000 tons of propylene to Asia-Pacific, up 32%.

From: International Trader Publications’ Ethylene and Propylene World Trade Reviews of 2015, and, World Trade Reports.