Thailand exported 5.4 million tons of commodity polymers in 2018, up 16% from 2017. The country became an important new market for recycle polymers, imports of which nearly quadrupled in 2018, to 553,000 tons. Sizable volumes of fabricated plastic products, 663,000 tons, up 8%, were exported to Asia-Pacific and North America.
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Korea’s Polymer Trade in 2018
Korea exported 10 million tons of commodity polymers in 2018, up 4% from the prior year, imported 900,000 tons of commodity polymers, up 15%, plus an additional 150,000 tons of recycle polymers, up 141%.
Continue readingUS Imports of Fabricated Plastic Product Surge in Advance of Tariffs
Although trade data for July for the US does not reflect new tariffs of 25% on many fabricated plastic products from China, US statistics showed record volumes being imported each month from May through July.
US Imported Record Volumes of Fabricated Plastic Products in 2017
Imports of fabricated plastic products that can be specifically identified by polymer were 3.5 million tons in 2017, up 17%. (Much larger volumes of fabricated products are imported as mixtures of polymers.) Imports were at record high levels for most of the year, including through the fourth quarter.
China’s Exports of Fabricated Plastic Products Rose for the 4th Year in a Row
China’s shipments of a wide variety of fabricated plastic products climbed 10% in 2016, to 9.2 million tons, the fourth year in a row of gains.
China’s Fabricated Plastic Products Exports Surge
China’s exports of fabricated plastic products surged in December 2015 and ended the year up 6% from 2014. Exports of several large-volume fabricated products set new record highs.
China’s Polymer Imports Set Another Record
Following the highest volume ever recorded on China’s imports of virgin commodity polymers, in March 2015, imports eased in April but set another record for that month. Continue reading
Profound Changes in China’s Commodity Polymer Trade
Historically low imports of recycle polymers, heavy imports of virgin HDPE, record high exports of PET, and, a strong upward trend in exports of fabricated plastic products were features of China’s trade in the first half of 2013. Continue reading
China’s Polymer Trade Shows Moderate Gains YTD
Despite typical declines in October, China’s imports of virgin and scrap commodity polymers and exports of fabricated plastic products are up 5-6% year to date. Continue reading