China’s imports of commodity polymers as a total of all grades of PE, PP, styrenics, PVC and PET, declined for the third year in a row, a loss of nearly 10 million tons of volume over the 2020-2023 period. Exports of the combined total climbed for the third year in a row, increasing by nearly 7 million tons. Shipments of manufactured products identifiable as plastic showed a small gain of 0.7 million tons in 2023, rising to 16.7 million tons.
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Western Europe’s Polyolefin Intra-regional Trade and Import Volumes Indicated Steady Demand Through July 2022
Although polyolefin demand in Western Europe will increasingly be impacted by economic and geopolitical forces, both intra-regional trade and imports into the region remained steady through July based on actual reported statistics.
Continue readingChina’s September 2022 Trade Statistics are Delayed
Due to the on-going 20th CPC National Congress in Beijing, release of trade and other statistics is delayed, but trading partner statistics give an advance view.
Continue readingLower Polyolefin Exports from Russia Indicated by Trading Partner Import Statistics Through June 2022 and Projected Through August
Russia stopped publishing trade statistics after January 2022. Russia’s exports, however, are visible from trading partner import statistics in ITP’s World Trade Matrixes. These indicate declines for both Russia’s exports of polymers of ethylene and propylene.
Continue readingUS Exports of Ethylene Polymers Surged in March, 2022, and Continued High in April
Shipments totaled 3.2 million tons through April, up 5.3% from the same period in 2021, on a big gain to Western Europe and higher volumes to all other regions except Asia-Pacific.
Continue readingUnited States Exports of Ethylene Polymers in January 2022 Were at Their Highest Level in 10 Months
Despite the rise, shipments were still 20% below the record high volumes exported in January 2021. There was also a marked change in export destinations by region between the two periods.
Continue readingWestern Europe Exports to Russia More of Most Major Polymers than it Imports from Russia, with the Exception of Polypropylene.
Western Europe’s polymer trade with Russia, particularly in polyolefins, styrenic polymers and PVC, will be impacted by sanctions and broken supply chains from the war in Ukraine.
Continue readingRussia’s Leading Exports and Imports of Polymers, Chemicals and Gases
The war in Ukraine, and with it sanctions and broken supply chains, will likely impact both exports from and imports into Russia of many products.
Continue readingTrends in United States’ Trade in Commodity Polymers in 2021
Imports of commodity polymers into the US in 2021 were the highest volume ever reported, 7.0 million tons, an increase of 1 million tons, 16%, from the prior year. The increase in imports, and also the drop in US exports by 15%, to 14.2 million tons, reflected strong domestic demand, US production issues and logistical problems. Demand is likely to continue strong in 2022. New US capacity and the gradual resolution of supply chain issues will likely result in further declines in imports and rising exports.
Continue readingDespite US Sanctions, Iran Exported 1.96 million Tons of Ethylene Polymers Through August 2021, up 29%
China and Turkey were shipped 95% of the total volume, with 5% to many other countries, including several that attempt to comply with the sanctions.
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