Tag Archives: India

China’s End to Imports of Recycle Polymers Will Have Global Impact

If China cuts off all imports of recycle plastics, as reported in the media as possibly occurring as soon as 2018, the impact on recycling industries in the US, Europe and Asia of the loss of a market for 7.3 million tons of recycle polymer would be huge.

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New: Liquefied Butanes Gas World Trade Report

This new Report tracks the movement of liquefied butanes between all importing and exporting countries and regions. In 2016, trade volume was 35 million tons, up 1% from 2015. Preliminary data shows volume March 2017 YTD up 6%. Continue reading

Nearly 4 Million Tons of Polyethylene Bags/Sacks are Traded Globally

The volume of PE bags and sacks (plus cones) traded globally in 2015 was 3.7 million tons.  Trade volume in 2016 is projected to be up about 4%, to just over 3.8 million tons. Western European countries and the United States are major import markets; China is the world’s top exporter, although shipments from other countries are rising.  Continue reading

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.

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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.

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India: Strong Import Market for Many Polymers and Chemicals

In contrast to trends in China, India’s imports of many basic chemicals and polymers posted large percentage increases through the third quarter of 2015 versus the same period in 2014. Continue reading

Focus on: Iran’s Polymer and Chemical Exports in the First Half of 2015

Iran’s exports of several large volume polymers and chemicals were up sharply in the first half of 2015 versus the prior year.  These products were shipped primarily to just three markets, China, India and Turkey, a situation which will change should sanctions be lifted. Continue reading