China ended 2015 with imports of polyolefins up 10% from 2014. Imports of HDPE and EVA were particularly strong, up 12% and 27%, respectively. In addition to higher volumes from the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, supplies from North America and Latin America rose sharply.
Tag Archives: Asia-Pacific
P-Xylene: Current Global Trade Trends
In 2014, global trade in para-xylene totaled 15.8 million tons, up 2% from the prior year. Trade volume through June of 2015 was up 12% from the same period in 2014, based on reporting countries. Global trade volume is an indicator of global demand.
Polyethylene Sheets and Other Flat Products: Current Global Trade Trends
In 2014, global trade in polyethylene sheets and other flat products (film, foil and strip) totaled 4.4 million tons, up 2% from the prior year. Trade volume through June of 2015 was up 3% from the same period in the prior year, based on reporting countries. Global trade volume is an indicator of global demand.
PVC Sheets and Other Flat Products: Current Global Trade Trends
Nearly 800,000 tons of sheet and other flat products (film, foil and strip) made from PVC were traded globally in 2014, up 3% from the prior year. Trade volume through June of 2015 was down 3%, based on reporting countries. Global trade volume is an indicator of global demand.
PVC Floor and Wall Coverings: Current Global Trade Trends
Nearly 3 million tons of flooring and wall coverings made from PVC were traded globally in 2014, up 11% from the prior year. Trade volume through June of 2015 was flat with last year, based on reporting countries. Global trade volume is an indicator of global demand. Continue reading
Africa’s Polyethylene Import Trends
Africa, in addition to Latin America, is an increasingly important market for polyethylene exporters, particularly those in the Middle East, as demand in Europe and Asia eases. Continue reading
Latin America’s Polyethylene Import Trends
The Latin American import market for polyethylene has become increasingly important to exporters worldwide as demand in the region is expected to grow rapidly but capacity expansions are limited.
Propylene Copolymers: Current Global Trade Trends
The volume of propylene copolymers traded globally, 3.2 million tons, was up 8% through May, 2015 from the prior year, based on reporting countries. (This compares with a 3% increase in exports of polypropylene homopolymer for the period.) Shipments increased from each of the top four exporting regions: Western Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and North America. Exports from the Middle East had the highest percentage increase.
Polypropylene: Current Global Trade Trends
The volume of polypropylene homopolymer traded globally, 6.1 million tons, was up 3% through May 2015 versus the prior year. Shipments from the Middle East and Western Europe were up; North America’s contracted slightly; exports from Eastern Europe jumped by over 50%.
EVA: Current Global Trade Trends
A surge in EVA imports into China in recent months was a key factor in the 9% expansion of global trade volume through May, 2015, to 829,000 tons.