Tag Archives: China

US Exports of LNG to Rise

If a trade accord between the US and the EU is finalized and the US puts in place more export terminals, LNG exports from the US will rise. Through May 2018, the US exported a total of LNG totaled 9.0 million tons, up 61% from the same period in 2017. Exports have been  climbing since early 2016. Korea, Mexico and China were the top three export destinations to date, with relatively small volumes to the EU. Continue reading

Western Europe Exported 2.4 Times as Much Recycle PE in 2017 as Did North America

Although virgin polyethylene production capacity is similar in both regions, Western Europe exported 1.4 million tons of recycle polyethylene in 2017, compared with 0.6 million tons  exported by from North America.

Shipments in 2017 from both regions were mainly to Asia-Pacific, although 220,000 tons of its total was shipped by Western Europe to Eastern Europe. Exports from both Western Europe and North America declined versus 2016, by 15% and 9%, respectively.

As of January 2018, China’s imports of R-PE have virtually disappeared. Although R-PE imports into Vietnam, Malaysia, Turkey and other countries have been rising, their imports to date are much smaller than China’s. Because of the previous size of Western Europe’s R-PE exports, that region will likely be impacted by the loss of the Chinese market to a greater degree than will North America.

From International Trader Publications’ Recycle Polyethylene World Trade Review – a continuously updated on line analysis of trade trends between countries and regions, based on latest import/export statistics from 46 countries.

China’s Imports of Recycle Polyethylene from Europe, North America and Asia Each Down 20-30%

China imported 1.9 million tons of recycle polyethylene from all sources in 2017, down 23%. Imports trended lower for most of the year with further declines expected in 2018 as restrictions come into full force. Continue reading