China ended 2015 with imports of polyolefins up 10% from 2014. Imports of HDPE and EVA were particularly strong, up 12% and 27%, respectively. In addition to higher volumes from the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, supplies from North America and Latin America rose sharply.
India: Strong Import Market for Many Polymers and Chemicals
In contrast to trends in China, India’s imports of many basic chemicals and polymers posted large percentage increases through the third quarter of 2015 versus the same period in 2014. Continue reading
Unusually Low Imports of Recycle Polymer into China
China’s imports of both virgin and recycle polymers tend to slow during the month of October because of the national holiday. In October 2015, however, imports of virgin polymers eased only slightly while imports of recycle polymer plummeted, sharply lower prices on virgin material making recycle polymer less competitive. Continue reading
Recent trends in Algeria’s Trade
Algeria is a sizable importer of all of the major commodity polymers. Algeria exports methanol and small volumes of benzene.
Latest Trade Projections for 2015
Trade indicates trends in global demand. Increased trade volume generally indicates growth in demand; decreased trade volume indicates contraction. Continue reading
Polyolefin Imports into India – New Record Highs
There were large percentage increases on imports of LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, polypropylene homopolymer and propylene copolymers into India in the first half of 2015, with new record highs on all but one.
Polyolefin Imports into China – mixed trends
As China is the world’s largest importer of LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, polypropylene and propylene copolymers, any decline in demand has major global impact. As of August, 2015, China’s imports of three polyolefins were up from the prior year, one was unchanged, and one showed a decline. Continue reading
Focus on: Iran’s Polymer and Chemical Exports in the First Half of 2015
Iran’s exports of several large volume polymers and chemicals were up sharply in the first half of 2015 versus the prior year. These products were shipped primarily to just three markets, China, India and Turkey, a situation which will change should sanctions be lifted. Continue reading
P-Xylene: Current Global Trade Trends
In 2014, global trade in para-xylene totaled 15.8 million tons, up 2% from the prior year. Trade volume through June of 2015 was up 12% from the same period in 2014, based on reporting countries. Global trade volume is an indicator of global demand.
Focus on: United States’ Chemical Trade in the First Half of 2015
United States’ exports of several chemicals surged in the first half of 2015: shipments of acetone, benzene, ethylene glycol, methanol, phenol, propylene and VAM were up 16% to 142% from the same period in 2014.