Polypropylene and Propylene Copolymers Global Trade Grew by over 3.5% per Year from 2016 to 2020

Polypropylene homopolymer global trade volume increased by 3.7% CAGR from 2016 through 2020 (projected). Propylene copolymers trade grew by 3.6% CAGR. For products that are widely traded, such as these polymers, growth in global trade volume generally reflects growth in global demand.

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Sharp Rise in Polycarbonate Film and Sheet Global Trade Projected for 2020, up 22%

Many countries reported record high imports of PC film and sheet from the second quarter of the year, on strong demand for personal protection equipment.

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Unprecedented Imports of PMMA Film/Sheet Globally

The need for PMMA film and sheet in personal protective equipment resulted in a stunning surge in imports into countries all over the globe during the April – August 2020 period, and also record exports from several.

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Export volumes of Key US Petrochemical and Gas Products to China Have Risen Sharply Under the Phase I Trade Deal

US exports through August 2020 of a number of polymers, liquefied gases and organic chemicals showed huge percentage increases versus the same period in 2019.

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Trends in PET Global Trade – Bottle Grade and Other

Polyethylene terephthalate polymer is traded under two forms: bottle grade PET, and, other than bottle grade. There are substantial differences between them in terms of end uses, trade volume, and trade trends.

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ITP Now Follows Global Trade in Two New World Trade Reports on: PET Bottle Grade, and, PET Film and Fiber Grade.

ITP’s current PET World Trade Report combines these products for historic continuity. In 2017, the World Customs Organization created new Harmonized System codes that separately identified bottle grade polyethylene terephthalate with a viscosity equal to or greater than 78 ml/g and PET with a viscosity less than 78 ml/g, generally used in film and fiber. ITP now follows these products separately, as well as combined. In 2019, ITP analyzed nearly 9 million tons of trade in bottle grade PET in 2019 and 4 million tons of PET for film and fiber.

China’s PE and PP Imports Slow in July and August 2020

China’s imports of ethylene polymers dropped from a record high of 2.1 million tons in June to 1.8 million tons in August. Imports of propylene polymers fell from 840,000 tons in June, another record, to 580,000 tons. Despite the declines, imports YTD are up substantially for both polymer groups.

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