Strong demand in Eastern Europe, particularly Turkey and Russia, was a positive factor in global trade in commodity and engineering polymers through the first half of 2011.

June 2011 year to date data shows large percentage gains on imports of many polymers into Eastern Europe.

Among commodity polymers, imports into Eastern Europe of LLDPE, HDPE, polypropylene, polystyrene – expandable and non-expandable, and PVC each were up 19%-32%. Imports of LDPE rose 5%; propylene copolymers, 8%. The Middle East was a high growth supplier of polyolefins to the region; Asia-Pacific of HDPE, polypropylene, propylene copolymers, polystyrene and PVC; and, North America, of PVC.

Turkey and Russia were growth markets for all the commodity polymers, with the largest percentage gains on imports of LLDPE into Turkey and on imports of HDPE, polypropylene, expandable polystyrene, and PVC into Russia. Several other countries in the region, including Poland, also generally had higher imports.

Among engineering polymers, imports into Eastern Europe of ABS, SAN, polyacetals, polycarbonates and PET were up 8%-18%. Western Europe and Asia-Pacific were leading suppliers of all these polymers. Also notable were much higher imports of PET from the Middle East.

Turkey was a strong growth market for each of the engineering polymers. Russia imported substantially higher volumes of polycarbonates and PET.

[important]This information is from ITP’s newsletters on global trade in polymers and chemicals, available by subscription monthly or quarterly.[/important]

Contact
Jean J. Sudol
President
International Trader Publications, Inc.
P.O. Box 687
Tarrytown, NY 10591
email: contact form
Tel: +1 914-631-6856
Fax: +1 914-631-6857