The strike begun at midnight, September 30th, by the International Longshoreman’s Association, and ended a few days later, had the potential to disrupt US polymer exports, particularly of polyethylene and PVC, particularly large volumes of which are shipped out of Houston-Galveston, Texas.
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Trends in US Exports of LNG, Liquefied Propane, Ethane, and Butane
Through July, 2024, the United States exported 53.1 million tons of LNG, up 2% from the same period in the prior year. The US also exported large volumes of other gases, some of which are produced during natural gas processing: 28.5 million tons of liquefied propane gas, up 10%, 5.8 million tons of liquefied ethane, down 3%, and 4.8 million tons of liquefied butane gas, down 2%.The US Energy Information Agency says that five new LNG export projects are under construction in the US, with shipments from two projects lilkely to begin at the end of 2024.
Continue readingMajor Trends in China’s Polymer Trade August 2024 YTD: Low Polyolefin Imports; Growing Polymer Exports; Record Shipments of Plastic Products
A slow economy, weak domestic demand and the availability of new capacity are reflected in China’s polymer trade. Through August, China imported 15.9 million tons of commodity polymers, unchanged from the same period last year and substantially lower than in earlier periods; exported growing volumes, with 9.9 million tons shipped through August, up 27%; and, shipped a record 12.5 million tons of identifiable plastic products, up 17%. Commodity polymers include polyolefins, styrenics, vinyl polymers and PET.
Continue readingIran’s Petrochemical Exports Expand in the First Half of 2024.
Methanol, polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE) and mono-ethylene glycol were Iran’s leading petrochemical exports (excluding liquefied gases) in the first half of 2024. Shipments of each were up versus the same period in 2023, mainly on increased exports to China.
Continue readingPetrochemical Trade – India’s Adani Group to Add PVC Capacity by 2026 – International Trader Publications
Adani Enterprises reported plans for 2 million tons of new PVC capacity in Mundra, Gujarat, with startup of 1 million tons, in phase one, by December 2026. India’s imports of PVC have trended upward in recent years, hitting a high of 3.2 million tons in 2023. The new PVC plant would be the Adani Group’s, a diversified organization with a world-class transport and utility infrastructure portfolio, first petrochemical venture.
Continue readingIndia is the World’s Top PVC Importer. Volume Jumped 70% in 2023
China continued as India’s leading source but imports from many other suppliers also surged, including Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and the United States.
Continue readingAdvanced Look at Western Europe’s HDPE Polymer Imports
Although Eurostat statistics for polymers and other products are published three months after the trade month, an earlier view of import demand and the impact of shipping disruptions in the Red Sea can be obtained from trading partner export statistics.
Continue readingChina’s Exports of All the Commodity Polymers Set New Records in March 2024
The simultaneous jump to new highs in March of China’s exports of polyethylene, polypropylene, styrenic polymers, PVC and PET was unprecedented. A rebound in polymer shipments after the holiday in February was expected and evident historically but new polymer capacity was also indicated, particularly in polypropylene.
Continue readingTrends in China’s Polyolefin Polymer Trade Through February 2924
Polyethylene polymer import and export volumes were higher versus February YTD 2023, but at depressed prices. Imports of polypropylene were down sharply; low-priced export volumes climbed.
Continue readingThe Rise and Fall of Global Paraxylene Trade
New para-xylene capacity in China and also in the Middle East and the rationalization of uncompetitive production in the US and Western Europe have massively changed global trade flows.
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