More than 200,000 tons of polyacetals polymer was traded in the first quarter of 2014, up 12% from the prior year’s first quarter. Main factors behind the increase in global volume were expanded trade within the Asia-Pacific region, much higher exports from Asia-Pacific to all other regions, with the highest percentage gains on shipments to Western Europe, Eastern Europe and North America, and, expanded trade within Western Europe. Polyacetals exports from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia shot up 21% – 72%.