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. 

Through August YTD, China’s imports were higher than in the same period last year for: LDPE, 1.4 million tons, up 4%; HDPE, 3.4 million tons, up 9%; and, propylene copolymers, 1.0 million tons, up 9%.

Imports of LLDPE were unchanged at 1.7 million tons.

China imported 8% less polypropylene homopolymer, the volume YTD at 2.3 million tons.

From: International Trader Publications’ World Trade Reports on LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, Polypropylene and Propylene Copolymers