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 readingTag Archives: Asia-Pacific
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 readingUS 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 readingMassive 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 readingChina’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 readingAsia-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 readingThe 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 readingLatin 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 readingAfrica’s ABS, SAN, Polyacetal, Polycarbonate, PMMA and PET Trade in 2024: Key Trends and Regional Shifts
Africa’s only sizable exports of engineering polymers are PET.
The region’s imports of PET are much larger. The region also imports small volumes of ABS, SAN, Polyacetal, PC, and PMMA.
Continue readingEastern Europe’s ABS, SAN, Polyacetal, Polycarbonate, PMMA and PET Trade in 2024: Key Trends and Regional Shifts
Eastern Europe shipped substantially higher volumes of PET in 2024, mainly on trade with Western Europe. Smaller volume exports of ABS also were up, Asia-Pacific trade accounting for the growth. Exports of SAN, Polyacetal, PC and PMMA contracted.
The region was the world’s largest importing region for ABS and SAN, and the second largest for PC and PMMA. Imports of all of the engineering polymers were up in 2024.
Continue reading