A slowdown in intra-regional trade and generally lower imports from other regions, with one key exception, were prominent trends in Western Europe’s PE trade, based on the most current data available.
Continue readingImports of Film and Sheet from PE, PP and PET Surge into the US in April.
During the worst month of the pandemic, the United States sharply increased imports of film and sheet made from polyethylene, polypropylene and PET, volumes of each in April at or near record levels. These polymers, among others, are used for personal protective equipment.
Continue readingUS Shipments of LNG in April 2020 Were Off 14% from March. China Topped the List of Export Destinations.
The US exported 4.4 million tons of liquefied natural gas in April, 2020, still a very high volume but down from 5.1 million tons in March.
Continue readingSteep Drop In US Exports of Polypropylene in April 2020
US exports of polypropylene, combined homopolymer and copolymer, dropped by 54,000 tons from March to April, mainly on lower volumes to Mexico and Canada.
Continue readingMajor Decline in US Exports of PVC in April 2020, as Covid -19 Impacts Demand
Used heavily in construction, which was severely curtailed by the pandemic, PVC exports from the US fell by nearly 90,000 tons from March to April.
Continue readingUS Exports of Some, But Not All, Ethylene Polymers Slow in April 2020
After trending higher since December and reaching record levels in March, the total volume of US exports across all the ethylene polymers was down in April. Shipments for the month were down 10% from March, but the magnitude of the decline varied greatly by specific polymer and also by region.
Continue readingThailand’s PE and PP Exports Surge in April, 2020, Indicating a Rebound in China’s Imports
Thailand’s exports of polyethylene rose sharply in March and April. Polypropylene exports shot to a new record high after two slow months. Average prices sank.
Continue readingCaustic Soda Global Trade in the First Quarter of 2020
Heavy exports from North America to Latin America, increased exports from Western Europe to various markets but lower imports into the region, and, much lower shipments out of the Middle East and Asia-Pacific were prominent trends.
Continue readingTurkey’s Imports of Caustic Soda up 66% in 2019, and Continuing to Rise
Turkey imported 563,000 tons of caustic soda in aqueous solution in 2019, up 66% from 2019. With imports through March 2020 totaling 148,000 tons, the upward trend looks to continue.
Continue readingBrazil Imports of Caustic soda up 116% versus Last March
Brazil is one of the largest importers of caustic soda in aqueous solution in the world, with YTD imports for 2019 totaling 2.3 million metric tons, up 15% compared to 2018 at year’s end. As of March 2020 YTD, Brazil had imported 709,000 tons, up 116% versus last year.
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