In 2018, the US imposed tariffs on Chinese goods and China retaliated with a 25% tariff on PE imports from the US. This caused a drop in China’s imports from US in 2019 but this was followed by a resurgence in mid-2020 through mid-2021, aided in part by Covid-19-related demand. Imports from the US slowed in 2021 as China expanded capacity, but volumes began climbing again and reached a peak in 2023 at 2.8 million tons. This slowed to 2.6 million tons in 2024. From 2022 through 2024 China’s total annual imports were steady, roughly around 17 million tons per year. The increased US share of the total was at the expense of reduced supplies from the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Further declines in China’s PE imports from the US are likely in 2025 because of new tariffs and expanding capacity in China.
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New Tariffs and US Exports of Polyethylene
On April 2, 2025 the US announced radical changes to tariffs on all imports into the United States. US polyethylene imports from and exports to Canada and Mexico are under the US-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement and are not impacted by the new tariffs. US exports of polyethylene, however, have risen rapidly since 2021 on higher shipments to Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Western Europe, and other regions. Responses, if any, by trading partners against imports of polyethylene or other products from the US are evolving. On April 3, China said it would apply a 34% tariff on all imports from the US.
Continue readingMiddle East’s PE, PP, PS and PVC Trade in 2024: Key Trends, Challenges, and Regional Shifts
It was a challenging year for the world’s largest volume exporter of most grades of polyethylene and polypropylene. Weak demand in Asia-Pacific and competition from North America and Asia-Pacific resulted in a drop in Middle East exports of LPDE, EVA, polypropylene homopolymer, and propylene copolymers versus the prior year, and shifts in regional destinations.
Continue readingLatin America’s PE, PP, PS and PVC Trade in 2024: Key Trends, Challenges, and Regional Shifts
Latin America’s trade in commodity polymers in 2024 was characterized by sizable exports of HDPE, polypropylene homopolymer (PP), and uncompounded PVC (PVCU). Latin America was a growth import market for each of the commodity polymers, noting especially both large volumes and large percentage increases on linear/ethylene-alpha-olefin-copolymers (LL/EAOC), HDPE, PP, and PVCU.
Continue readingNorth America’s PE, PP, PS and PVC Trade in 2024: Trends, Challenges, and Regional Shifts
North America’s trade in commodity polymers in 2024 was characterized by large volume exports of polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC, most of which were up from the prior year. Imports were relatively small; several polyolefins showing large percentage gains.
Continue readingAfrica’s PE, PP, PS and PVC Trade in 2024: Key Trends, Challenges, and Regional Shifts
Africa’s trade in commodity polymers in 2024 was characterized by relatively small volume exports of HDPE, polypropylene, and PVC. Imports of each of these polymers were substantial and posted gains versus the prior year.
Continue readingEastern Europe’s PE, PP, PS and PVC Trade in 2024: Key Trends, Challenges, and Regional Shifts
Eastern Europe’s trade in commodity polymers in 2024 was characterized by sizable exports of HDPE and polypropylene homopolymer (PP). Eastern Europe was the largest volume commodity polymer importer of any region with the exception of Asia-Pacific, and, for HDPE with a small increment, also Latin America.
Continue readingWestern Europe’s PE, PP, PS and PVC Trade in 2024: Key Trends, Challenges, and Regional Shifts
Weak demand, competition in export markets and imports from other regions were reflected in Western Europe’s trade in polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and PVC in 2024.
Continue readingGlobal Trade in Commodity Polymers in 2024
ITP’s analysis of commodity polymers trade projects higher global trade volume in 2024 versus 2023 for all of the polymers listed below except polystyrene, which is projected flat, and EVA and high pressure LDPE, which are projected to contract. Changes in trade volume are linked to changes in demand, production and shipping.
Continue readingITP Projects Higher Global Trade Volume in 2024 For Many Widely Traded Polymers and Chemicals
Although final trade statistics for 2024 will not be available for many countries until March of 2025, ITP’s analysis of trends for individual countries indicates expanded global trade volume in 2024 for the majority of products. Increased global trade generally indicates increased demand.
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