US exports YTD to Europe, Africa, and Canada were up; shipments to Latin America and Asia-Pacific fell.
Continue readingTag Archives: Colombia
US Polyethylene Exports Increased Again in 2025 on Gains to Latin America, Western Europe, and Other Regions
US exports of polyethylene (all grades combined) reached 15.7 million tons in 2025, up from 13.8 million tons in 2023, based on US export statistics.
Continue readingChina Increasingly Dominates PET Trade – China’s Exports Accounted for 45% of the Total Volume of PET Traded Globally in 2025, Up From 23% in 2020
Massive capacity expansion in China has led to growing exports to Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.
Continue readingImplications of Venezuela’s Rising Imports of Polyethylene
Venezuela’s imports of polyethylene have risen over most of the 2010-2025 period while exports have been negligible. The dramatic United States military intervention in Venezuela on January 3, 2026 and the stated US intention to upgrade the country’s oil industry raises the possibility that a corollary upgrade of the country’s petrochemical capacity may also be considered.
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 readingUS Polyethylene Exports to China Hit 16-Month Low Amidst Tariff Uncertainty
The impact of the trade war between the US and China and the associated tariff uncertainty was reflected in US exports of polyethylene to China in April 2025, the lowest in 16 months.
Continue readingUS Ethanol Exports to Benefit from Trade Deal with the UK
On May 8, 2025 the US announced the first country-specific trade deal from among the many that are currently under negotiation. Details have yet to be finalized, but one provision to be included is tariff-free quotas for ethanol imports into the UK from the US.
Continue readingBrazil was a Commodity Polymer Import Powerhouse in 2024
Imports of nearly all grades of polyethylene, polypropylene, styrenic polymers, PVC and PET were up sharply versus 2023, many grades setting new records. Brazil’s imports of fabricated plastic products also surged to new highs.
Continue readingTrends in EDC and VCM Global Trade
Global trade volume for both EDC and VCM trended upward from 2018 through 2020 but then diverged, with profound changes in regional, and country, imports and exports over the period.
Continue readingImpressive Surge in US Exports of Polyethylene in March, 2022
The United States exported 966,000 tons of ethylene polymers in March, 2022, an increase of 160,000 tons over February. Shipments of every PE grade were up in March. Further increases are likely with startup of new capacity.
Continue reading