This was a decline of 16% from the prior year and a sharp break in the upward trend in imports of recycle polymer that was evident over the last several years. By comparison, China’s imports of virgin polymers of ethylene were up 8% through August, an increase of about 460,000 tons. Continue reading
Lackluster PMMA Polymer and Sheet Trade in the First Half of 2013
Versus the prior year, global trade volume through June 2013 was down 10% for PMMA polymer, and down 1% for sheet. Lower imports into China of both materials were factors. Continue reading
Global Trade Volume Projected to Expand for Polyacetals and PET; Decline for Polycarbonates
Global trade volume in 2013, that is, the volume of imports and exports between all countries, is projected to be up by 7% versus 2012 for polyacetals and by 8% for PET. Polycarbonates trade is projected to contract by 5%. Global trade volume is an indicator of apparent demand for widely traded products. Continue reading
PVC Global Trade Volume Projected to End the Year Up Substantially
Global trade volume in PVC is projected by ITP to be up in 2013 by 8% versus the prior year. Trade volume is an indicator of apparent demand for products that are widely traded. Continue reading
Reduced Polypropylene Exports from the Middle East Shift Global Trade Flows
Middle East exports of polypropylene homopolymer have been down since February 2013, with lower shipments to Asia-Pacific, Western and Eastern Europe and Africa. Other trends evident in the first half of the year were expanded trade within the Asia-Pacific region and substantially higher imports into Eastern Europe from other regions. Continue reading
Robust Expansion in Global Benzene Trade
Benzene trade volume was up 19% through June 2013 versus the prior year. Several key countries reported much higher imports; exports from Thailand, Germany, Japan and others were up sharply. Continue reading
PET Exports from China Soar to a New High
China’s exports of PET polymer, most of which is bottle-grade, reached a new record in July, 2013 of 217,000 tons. Shipments to all world regions increased, with the heaviest volumes exported to Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America. Continue reading
Polyacetals Global Trade Volume Rises
The amount of polyacetals polymer traded globally as imports and exports was particularly heavy from March through June of 2013. Expanded trade within the Asia-Pacific region and substantially higher imports into that region from Western Europe contributed to the rise in volume. Continue reading
Eastern Europe’s Polyethylene Import Sources Shift
Lower imports from the Middle East of LLDPE and HDPE, higher volumes of LDPE, and increased imports of all three polymers from Asia-Pacific were evident in the region through May 2013. Continue reading
Western Europe’s Polyethylene Import Sources Shift
Reduced imports of LLDPE and HDPE from the Middle East and higher volumes of these polymers, and also LDPE from Asia-Pacific were features of Western Europe’s trade May 2013 year to date. Continue reading