Tag Archives: ethylene

US-China Trade War Update

The March 1 deadline for an increase from 10% to 25% in tariffs by the US on $200 Billion of imports from China has been postponed, but tariffs on many polymers and chemicals put in place earlier by both countries remain.

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Global Trends in Ethylene Monomer Trade in 2016

The volume of ethylene monomer traded as imports and exports in 2016 was 7.1 million tons, up 4% from 2015.  Much higher imports into Asia-Pacific from sources outside the region, and also into Western Europe, were key factors on the demand side. (Based on latest available trade statistics.) Continue reading

China’s Trade June 2016 YTD: Generally Lower Imports; Big Gains on Some Exports

China’s imports of most polymers and chemical were lower in the first half of 2016 than in the same period in the prior year. Exceptions were imports of: ethylene, EVA, propylene oxide and, especially, methanol. China’s exports of PVC, polypropylene, PTA, VAM and non-expandable polystyene surged. Shipments of polyethylene also were up. Continue reading

Major Trends in Ethylene and Propylene Monomer Global Trade in 2015

The volume of ethylene monomer traded globally in 2015 was up 12% from 2014; propylene monomer trade expanded 11%. Much higher shipments from North America to Asia-Pacific, and substantially reduced exports from the Middle East to that region, were prominent features of global ethylene trade. North America also exported much higher volumes of propylene, but nearly all of it to Latin America. The Middle East increased its propylene exports to Asia-Pacific.

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Focus on: United States’ Chemical Trade in the First Half of 2015

United States’ exports of several chemicals surged in the first half of 2015:  shipments of acetone, benzene, ethylene glycol, methanol, phenol, propylene and VAM were up 16% to 142% from the same period in 2014.

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Focus on: China’s Chemical Trade in the First Half of 2015

There were spectacular increases on imports of several large volume chemicals and polymers into China in the first half of 2015, and declines on others.

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