Saudi Arabia exported 4.4 million tons of polypropylene (all grades, partly estimated) in 2024, down 14%. The UAE shipped 1.7 million tons, down 7%. (UAE does not publish statistics; data is visible from trading partners). Shipments to Asia-Pacific were the most impacted.

Although global trade in polypropylene grew 4% in 2024, to 34 million tons, Saudi Arabia and the UAE both shipped less polymer.

Saudi Arabia’s exports to Asia-Pacific plunged 32%, to 1.2 million tons. Exports to Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East also slowed. Shipments to Latin America posted a small gain.

The UAE exports PP primarily to Asia-Pacific, with shipments there down 8%, to 1.47 million tons.

New capacity in China factored into the 97% jump in China’s exports of polypropylene, to 2.2 million tons (based on trading partner imports, considered to be more accurate), with particularly strong gains to Asia-Pacific, 1.2 million tons (up 79%); Latin America, 488,000 tons (up 168%); and Africa, 251,000 tons (up 146%).

From International Trader Publications’ World Trade Analyses, continuously updated analyses of global trade in all grades of polypropylene.