Tag Archives: Asia-Pacific

ITP Projects Polycarbonate Polymer Global Trade Volume of 3.9 Million Tons in 2025, up 2% from 2024

Prominent trends include: much higher exports out of the Middle East; higher exports also out of Western Europe and Asia-Pacific; increased imports into every world region except Africa and North America.

Continue reading

ITP Projects ABS Global Trade Volume in 2025 Down 2%; Prominent Trends Include an Increase in APAC Exports, a Decline in WE Exports, and Lower Intra-regional Trade for Both Regions.

ABS global trade is projected at 4.1 million tons in 2025, down 2% from 2024. Prominent trends include an increase in Asia-Pacific exports to other regions, a decline in exports from Western Europe to other regions, and lower intra-regional trade in both regions.

Continue reading

UAE Polyethylene and Polypropylene Exports Are Projected to Decline in 2025, with Losses in Asia-Pacific Only Partly Offset by Gains in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America; Historic Data Shows Major Re-Exports

UAE exports of polyethylene (all grades) are projected at 3.8 million tons yearend 2025, down 1%; polypropylene, 1.6 million tons, down 6% (based on import statistics from all available publishing countries, as the UAE does not publish timely statistics). The latest export data for UAE, for 2023 (from UN Comtrade), shows much lower exports out of UAE than is reported by trading partners as imports from UAE as the country of origin.

Continue reading

ITP Projects PP Homopolymer Global Trade Volume in 2025 Up 2% vs. 2024, Copolymers Volume, Unchanged; Middle East and APAC Battle for European and African Markets as China’s Exports Soar.

Polypropylene homopolymer global trade is projected at 22.5 million tons in 2025, up 2% from 2024; propylene copolymers trade adds another 10.3 million tons, unchanged.

Continue reading

US Polyethylene Exports Shift to Other Regions, Offsetting Lower Volumes to Asia-Pacific

The US exported 9.1 million tons of polyethylene (all grades combined) through July 2025, up 5% from the same period in 2024. Trade with Asia-Pacific slowed, but there were strong gains to Eastern Europe and Africa and moderate increases to Western Europe and Latin America. Average prices remained depressed.

Continue reading

Massive Surge in China’s Exports of Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Styrenics, PVC, and PET Through July 2025, at Record Low Prices

Overcapacity, weak domestic demand, and the attraction of very low prices in an uncertain global economic environment were evident in the 29% jump in China’s commodity polymer exports July 2025 YTD, to 11.1 million tons, on gains to every region except North America. Average prices sank to their lowest levels in over five years, most polymers losing roughly $1000/ton from highs in 2021/2022, PET an exception, losing $400.

Continue reading

China’s Surging PP Exports Have Sharply Reduced Korea’s Exports Within Asia-Pacific and Africa, but Not Yet in Europe

China and South Korea are early reporting countries with trade data currently available for April 2025. From January to April, China exported 1.0 million tons of polypropylene (all grades), up 17%; Korea shipped 1.2 million tons, down 9%.

Continue reading

Asia-Pacific’s ABS, SAN, Polyacetal, Polycarbonate, PMMA, and PET Trade in 2024: Key Trends and Regional Shifts

Asia-Pacific was the world’s largest exporter of all of these engineering polymers in 2024 and volumes were up from the prior year, especially for PET. Asia-Pacific was also the world’s largest importer of polyacetals, polycarbonates, and PMMA. Trade flows shifted markedly for both exports and imports.

Continue reading

The Middle East’s ABS, SAN, Polyacetal, Polycarbonate, PMMA, and PET Trade in 2024: Key Trends and Regional Shifts

The Middle East’s largest volume engineering polymer exports were polycarbonates, PET, and ABS. The largest imports were PET and polycarbonates.

Continue reading

Latin America’s ABS, SAN, Polyacetal, Polycarbonate, PMMA, and PET Trade in 2024: Key Trends and Regional Shifts

PET was Latin America’s largest volume engineering polymer export in 2024. Latin America was a growth market for all of the polymers, with imports up from the prior year and the highest percentage gains for ABS, SAN, and PET.

Continue reading