The addition of massive Chinese capacity dramatically impacted global trade flows.

The global volume of polypropylene traded between all countries ranged narrowly between 33-35 million tons per year over 2020-2025. At the start of that period, China imported 6.8 million tons of polypropylene, 20% of the global total. By 2025, this was down to 3.7 million tons, 11% of total global volume.

Imports into China from Asia-Pacific sources plummeted (top suppliers including Korea, Singapore, Japan, and Malaysia) as did also imports from the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia). (Note: polypropylene global trade volume is for all grades combined, measured as imports or exports, which are equal.)

China’s exports surged to 3.2 million tons in 2025. Just over half went to other Asia-Pacific markets, (top destinations including Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Thailand). Latin America was also a growth market (headed by Peru, Brazil, Guatemala), as was Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania) and Eastern Europe (Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan).

From International Trader Publications’ continuously updated World Trade Analyses on all grades of polypropylene, and, The China Polymer Trade Report, analyzing China’s imports and exports by country and region for all grades of PE, PP, Styrenic Polymers, PVC, PET, recyclable polymers and key fabricated plastic products.