An increase in the amount of material being traded globally generally indicates an increase in demand. ITP currently projects global trade volume to be up 4% to 10% in 2014 from 2013 for a number of heavily traded polymers and chemicals. Continue reading
Global Trade Volume Up for PMMA Polymer and Sheet
Global trade volume was up 9% for PMMA polymer and 5% for sheet in the first half of 2014. Continue reading
Western Europe Imports Less LDPE, LLDPE and PP from the Middle East
Western Europe’s imports through April 2014 of both LDPE and LLDPE from the Middle East were down 42% from the prior year; imports of polypropylene homopolymer were down 11%. HDPE imports increased 1%. Continue reading
China’s Imports of Recycle PET Unchanged Through June 2014; Recycle PE Imports up 51%
China imported close to 1 million tons of recycle PET through June 2014, the volume unchanged from the prior year. Recycle polyethylene imports were 2.2 million tons, up 51%. Continue reading
US Benzene Imports up 20% May 2014 YTD
Over 835,000 tons of benzene were imported into the US through May 2014, up 20% from the same period last year. As US crackers continue the trend to lighter feedstocks, lower US benzene production and increased benzene imports are likely. Continue reading
PVC Exports from China Set a New Record in May 2014, India the Top Market
After trending higher from the beginning of the China, China’s exports of PVC hit a new record high in May 2014 of 131,000 tons for the month. Continue reading
China’s PE imports up 13% – 43% through May 2014
China’s imports of LDPE were up 43% YTD; LLDPE up 25%; HDPE up 13%; and EVA, up 31%. A massive surge in imports in January plus relatively high volumes in following months accounted for the large percentage gains. Continue reading
PVC World Trade Volume Contracts 5% in the First Quarter of 2014
Nearly 3 million tons of PVC polymer was traded globally in the first quarter of 2014, down 5% from last year’s first quarter.
LDPE World Trade Volume up 7% in First Quarter of 2014; LLDPE up 3%; HDPE up 6%
Nearly 3 million tons of LDPE were traded globally in the first quarter of 2014, up 7% from last year’s first quarter. Global trade volume for LLDPE was over 2 million tons, up 3%; for HDPE, over 4 million tons, up 6%. Continue reading
PMMA Polymer World Trade Volume up 17% in First Quarter of 2014
Nearly 140,000 tons of PMMA polymer were traded globally in the first quarter of 2014, up 17% from the prior year’s first quarter. Continue reading