The volume of ethylene monomer traded as imports and exports in 2016 was 7.1 million tons, up 4% from 2015. Much higher imports into Asia-Pacific from sources outside the region, and also into Western Europe, were key factors on the demand side. (Based on latest available trade statistics.) Continue reading
Tag Archives: China
Nearly 5 million tons of PE Film and Sheet is Traded Globally
Preliminary figures for 2016 indicate a 6% increase in global trade volume in polyethylene film and sheet, to just under 5 million tons.
China’s Ethylene and Propylene Imports Hit New Highs
Both China’s imports of ethylene monomer and propylene monomer soared to new highs in December 2016.
China’s Exports of Fabricated Plastic Products Rose for the 4th Year in a Row
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.
China’s Imports of Recycle PET Surged in 2016; Recycle PVC also Up
China’s imports of recycle PET climbed through most of 2016, reaching a new high of 277,000 tons in December. The average price picked up slightly towards year end, to $456/ton.
Surprise Ending to 2016 for China’s Polyethylene Imports
China’s imports of LLDPE surged to an all time high of 330,000 tons in December, ending 2016 at 2.6 million tons, up 2% from the prior year.
Recent Changes in US Polyethylene Trade Flows
With construction continuing on massive new polyethylene capacity, US imports trended up to a new record high in the second half of the year, as US exports plummeted.
Nearly 4 Million Tons of Polyethylene Bags/Sacks are Traded Globally
The volume of PE bags and sacks (plus cones) traded globally in 2015 was 3.7 million tons. Trade volume in 2016 is projected to be up about 4%, to just over 3.8 million tons. Western European countries and the United States are major import markets; China is the world’s top exporter, although shipments from other countries are rising. Continue reading
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%.
Global Trade in Propylene Glycol up Slightly; Asia-Pacific Exports Rise to Several Markets
The volume of propylene glycol traded globally showed a 1% rise through August 2016, to over 600,000 tons, based on earliest available data.