After trending higher since December and reaching record levels in March, the total volume of US exports across all the ethylene polymers was down in April. Shipments for the month were down 10% from March, but the magnitude of the decline varied greatly by specific polymer and also by region.
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Overview of Brazil’s Commodity Polymer Trade July 2018 YTD
Brazil’s exports of commodity polymers trended downward through most of the first seven months of 2018. Imports were moderately higher; imports of fabricated plastic products rose strongly.
US Propylene Exports Set New Record
United States exports of propylene hit 61,000 tons in June, 2017, at an average price of $813/ton. Shipments YTD were up 31% from the same period in 2016.
United States Propylene Exports up 57% in 2016
The US exported 431,000 tons of propylene in 2016, up 57% from 2015, shipments to Colombia and Mexico accounting for nearly all of the total.
Global Trends in Propylene Monomer Trade in 2016
The volume of propylene monomer traded as imports and exports in 2016 was 7.8 million tons, down 2% from 2015. (Based on latest available trade statistics.)
Brazil’s Exports of Commodity Polymers Jumped 28% in 2016; Imports Slowed
Brazil exported nearly 2 million tons of polyolefins, styrenic polymers, vinyl polymers and PET in 2016, up 28% from 2015.
Cuba’s Polymer Imports
Cuba’s largest polymer imports are HDPE, LDPE and PET. Sizable volumes of polyethylene bags/sacks and polyethylene film/sheet are also imported. Volumes rose sharply in 2015 versus 2014.
Mexico’s Polyethylene Trade
Mexico’s exports of HDPE rose sharply in the second quarter of 2016, while exports of L/LLDPE continued a gradual upward trend. Imports of both polymers also trended higher. Major shifts in imports and exports are expected as Braskem Idesa’s new plant ramps up. Continue reading
Recent Trends in Propylene Monomer Trade
Much higher propylene monomer exports from both North America and Western Europe to Latin America were among the trends visible in global propylene trade through March, 2016.
Polypropylene Global Trade Trends
The volume of polypropylene homopolymer traded globally in 2015 was 17.3 million tons, up 3% from 2014. Imports into Asia-Pacific were unchanged from the prior year. Western Europe’s imports rose 21%; North America’s, 42%, but on small volumes. Data available to date for 2016 indicates a continuation of these trends.