After more than a year of inactivity, the United States began exporting ethylene in May, 2015, and shipments since then have averaged roughly 15,000 tons per month.
Tag Archives: Eastern Europe
Impact on Western Europe of Reduced PVC Supplies from Mexico
The April 20, 2016 blast at the Petroquimica Mexicana de Vinilo plant at Coatzacoalcos, Mexico is expected to reduce Mexico’s exports of PVC, which go mainly to Western Europe.
Benzene Global Trade Trends
Over 9 million tons of benzene were traded globally in 2015, up 16% from 2014. Prominent regional trends during the year included: higher Asia-Pacific exports and also expanded trade within that region; increased imports into North America; increased imports into Western Europe; and, in the Middle East sharply higher trade, both imports and exports, with imports exceeding exports. Early data for 2016 indicates a continuation of these trends.
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.
US Methanol Exports Set New Record Early in 2016
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
Major Trends in HDPE Global Trade in 2015
The volume of high density polyethylene traded globally in 2015 was up 8% from 2014, indicating a significant increase in global demand. A strong increase in exports from North America and moderately higher Middle East shipments were prominent trends.
Major Trends in Methanol Global Trade in 2015
The volume of methanol traded globally in 2015 was unchanged from 2014, indicating no increase in global demand. Much higher exports from the Middle East to Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America were prominent trends during the year.
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.
Polyethylene Sheets and Other Flat Products: Current Global Trade Trends
In 2014, global trade in polyethylene sheets and other flat products (film, foil and strip) totaled 4.4 million tons, up 2% from the prior year. Trade volume through June of 2015 was up 3% from the same period in the prior year, based on reporting countries. Global trade volume is an indicator of global demand.
PVC Sheets and Other Flat Products: Current Global Trade Trends
Nearly 800,000 tons of sheet and other flat products (film, foil and strip) made from PVC were traded globally in 2014, up 3% from the prior year. Trade volume through June of 2015 was down 3%, based on reporting countries. Global trade volume is an indicator of global demand.