There has been an upward trend in United States exports of methanol for several months with shipments in both January and February 2016 at new record levels. Continue reading
Tag Archives: China
Major Trends in EVA Global Trade in 2015
The volume of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer traded globally in 2015 was up 10% from 2014, indicating a significant increase in global demand. Much higher imports into Asia-Pacific, sourced mainly from North America, Western Europe, and, with the largest percentage gain, the Middle East, plus expanded trade within the Asia-Pacific region, were the leading factor in the increase.
China’s PET and PVC Polymer Exports Fall in 2015
PET and PVC are China’s largest commodity polymer exports but shipments of both were down substantially in 2015 versus 2014.
China Was A High Growth Import Market in 2015 for Benzene, Isopropanol, Cumene, P-Xylene, Methanol and VCM
China’s imports of these basic chemicals increased by 15% to 100% in 2015 versus 2014.
China Imported Less Recycle Polymers in 2015
China imported 7.4 million tons of recycle polymer in 2015, down 11% from 2014. This compared with a 5% increase in imports in 2014 versus 2013, and an 11% decline also in 2013, the year stricter pollution controls went into effect.
China’s Polymer Exports Fell in 2015
China exported 4.1 million tons of polymers in 2015, down 10% from the prior year. PET was the largest volume polymer export, followed by PVC, both down from 2014. Exports of polyethylene increased.
China’s Fabricated Plastic Products Exports Surge
China’s exports of fabricated plastic products surged in December 2015 and ended the year up 6% from 2014. Exports of several large-volume fabricated products set new record highs.
China’s Polyolefins Trade in 2015
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.
Unusually Low Imports of Recycle Polymer into China
China’s imports of both virgin and recycle polymers tend to slow during the month of October because of the national holiday. In October 2015, however, imports of virgin polymers eased only slightly while imports of recycle polymer plummeted, sharply lower prices on virgin material making recycle polymer less competitive. Continue reading
Polyolefin Imports into China – mixed trends
As China is the world’s largest importer of LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, polypropylene and propylene copolymers, any decline in demand has major global impact. As of August, 2015, China’s imports of three polyolefins were up from the prior year, one was unchanged, and one showed a decline. Continue reading