As it did in 2009 during the financial crisis, China buttressed the global petrochemical industry with record imports of LLDPE and HDPE during the 2020 pandemic. Volume was heavy from May through October 2020. Much higher imports from North America (US), Eastern Europe (Russia) and other Asia-Pacific, and a drop in imports of LLDPE from the Middle East, were prominent supply changes.
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Dramatic Shifts in Butadiene Trade Flows in 2020
Western Europe’s exports soared as lower domestic demand reduced intra-regional trade flows and imports. Other exporting regions also increased shipments in 2020. Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe saw strong import growth.
Continue readingMEG and DEG Global Trade Expanded at 5% per Year from 2017 to 2020; North America’s Market Share Climbed Sharply
Monoethylene glycol and diethylene glycol global trade volume has expanded each year from 2017 through 2020, with dramatic changes in trade flows between regions.
Continue readingTrends in PET Global Trade – Bottle Grade and Other
Polyethylene terephthalate polymer is traded under two forms: bottle grade PET, and, other than bottle grade. There are substantial differences between them in terms of end uses, trade volume, and trade trends.
Continue readingMajor Trends in Recyclable PS World Trade
The volume of recyclable polystyrene traded globally has fallen steeply from a peak of 460,000 tons in 2017 to 224,000 tons projected for 2020.
Continue readingMajor Trends in Recyclable Polyethylene World Trade
The volume of recyclable polyethylene traded globally has fallen by more 50% from 2015, resulting in profound changes in regional trade flows.
Continue readingNew Capacity in North America Impacts Middle East Polyethylene Exports
North America exported higher volumes of polyethylene to every world region through May 2020, while Middle East exports to every region were down.
Continue readingSharp Drop in Global Isocyanates Trade Through May 2020 and Projected for Year End
The volume of isocyanates (combined MDI, TDI and other) traded through May 2020 was down 10% from the same period last year, based on latest available statistics. Asia-Pacific and Western Europe, accounting for more than half of global trade volume, each saw trade contract within their regions, with lower imports.
Continue readingCaustic Soda Global Trade in the First Quarter of 2020
Heavy exports from North America to Latin America, increased exports from Western Europe to various markets but lower imports into the region, and, much lower shipments out of the Middle East and Asia-Pacific were prominent trends.
Continue readingUS Exports of Ethylene Polymers Reach a New High in March 2020
The impact of the pandemic was not yet evident in US exports of ethylene polymers in the first quarter, which climbed each month to an all-time monthly high of 975,000 tons in March.
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