The US exported a total of 1.7 million tons of recycle polymers in 2017. Imports into the US of recycle polymers were 429,000 tons, up 2%. Continue reading
US Imported Record Volumes of Fabricated Plastic Products in 2017
Imports of fabricated plastic products that can be specifically identified by polymer were 3.5 million tons in 2017, up 17%. (Much larger volumes of fabricated products are imported as mixtures of polymers.) Imports were at record high levels for most of the year, including through the fourth quarter.
US Exports of Ethylene Polymers were down 2% in 2017
Shipments totaled 5.3 million tons for the year, with volumes at record high levels early in the year, a slowdown from May through November, then a surge in December.
Ethylene Polymer Imports into China up 18% in 2017, to 13.5 Million Tons
Imports were at record levels for most of the second half of 2017.
China’s Imports of Recycle PET Down 14% in 2017
Monthly import volume fell to 64,000 tons in December, the price steady throughout the fourth quarter around $490/ton.
China’s Imports of Recycle Polyethylene from Europe, North America and Asia Each Down 20-30%
China imported 1.9 million tons of recycle polyethylene from all sources in 2017, down 23%. Imports trended lower for most of the year with further declines expected in 2018 as restrictions come into full force. Continue reading
LNG Exports Out of the US Hit New High in November
The United States exported 1.8 million tons of LNG in November 2017, setting another record. The average price picked up slightly from the prior month, to $214/ton.
Middle East Propane Exports to Asia Down Two Years in a Row as North America’s Grow
Middle East exports of liquefied propane gas to Asia-Pacific are projected to be down 3% at yearend 2017, to 19.9 million tons. This follows a decline of 7% in Middle East shipments to the region in 2016 versus 2015. The Middle East’s much smaller exports to Africa also were down for the second year.
In contrast, North America’s exports to Asia-Pacific are projected to end up 18% in 2017, to 13.2 million tons. In 2016, North America’s shipments to that region had jumped 81% from the prior year.
North America’s exports to Western Europe and Latin America are projected to be down in 2017 but shipments to Eastern Europe and Africa have risen in each of the last two years.
US exports were 2.6 million tons in October and 2.4 million tons in November, both volumes near record levels. Shipments totaled 24.1 million tons through November, up 14% on higher volumes to Japan, China, Mexico, Korea and many others.
From International Trader Publications’ Liquefied Propane Gas World Trade Report – a continuously updated on line analysis of global trade based on statistics from 60 countries.
China’s Imports of Recycle Polymers Fell to a Low in November
Imports of recycle polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC and PET all fell in November to volumes at or near record monthly lows for the 2013-2017 period. Imports of smaller volumes of recycle polystyrene remained above last year’s levels. Continue reading
Surge in China’s Polyethylene Imports in November as Recycle PE Imports Drop
China’s polyethylene imports rebounded strongly in November 2017. This followed a relatively small holiday-related decline in October, versus previous years. Imports of recycle polyethylene continued trending downward, to their lowest monthly volume in the 2013-2017 period.