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. Key factors in the increase in world trade volume were sharply higher exports from Asia-Pacific to other regions and also expanded trade within the Asia-Pacific region. Shipments abroad from Asia-Pacific were up 31% for the quarter on gains to Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East. Exports from Singapore jumped 87%, from Taiwan, 53%, from South Korea, 12%.

World trade in PMMA sheet was up 7% for the quarter. Of particular note were higher exports from North America, up 36%, mainly on gains to Western Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.