China’s shipments of a wide variety of fabricated plastic products climbed 10% in 2016, to 9.2 million tons, the fourth year in a row of gains.
Tag Archives: Asia-Pacific
Global Trade in Recycle Polyethylene Continues to Contract
The volume of recycle polyethylene traded globally in 2015 was 6 million tons, down 11% from the prior year. Through October 2016, global trade volume was down 18%.
Middle East Imports of PMMA Polymer and Sheet
The Middle East imported 30,000 tons of PMMA polymer in 2015, and 25,000 tons of PMMA sheet.
Global Trends in VAM Trade
Global trade in VAM was up 3% through July, 2016, to 1.1 million tons, indicating a small rise in global demand. Key trends contributing to the increased volume were higher imports into Western Europe and expanded trade within the Asia-Pacific region. Continue reading
Global Trends in Acetic Acid Trade
A 3% increase in global trade volume, to nearly 2 million tons, indicated growth in global demand for acetic acid through July 2016. The increase mainly reflected expanded intra-regional trade within Western Europe and Asia-Pacific. Continue reading
Recent Trends in Butadiene Trade
Substantially higher butadiene export from Western Europe and Latin America were prominent trade trends through May, 2016.
Recent Trends in Propylene Monomer Trade
Much higher propylene monomer exports from both North America and Western Europe to Latin America were among the trends visible in global propylene trade through March, 2016.
US Exports of Ethylene
After more than a year of inactivity, the United States began exporting ethylene in May, 2015, and shipments since then have averaged roughly 15,000 tons per month.
Impact on Western Europe of Reduced PVC Supplies from Mexico
The April 20, 2016 blast at the Petroquimica Mexicana de Vinilo plant at Coatzacoalcos, Mexico is expected to reduce Mexico’s exports of PVC, which go mainly to Western Europe.
Benzene Global Trade Trends
Over 9 million tons of benzene were traded globally in 2015, up 16% from 2014. Prominent regional trends during the year included: higher Asia-Pacific exports and also expanded trade within that region; increased imports into North America; increased imports into Western Europe; and, in the Middle East sharply higher trade, both imports and exports, with imports exceeding exports. Early data for 2016 indicates a continuation of these trends.