Global trade generally trended higher over the ten-year period, volume in 2025 at 5 million tons, up from 3.8 million tons in 2015. Key regional changes included much higher imports into Western Europe and North America, expanded exports out of Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe, and increased intra-regional trade within virtually all regions. As bags and sacks are an important end-use for PE polymer, trade flows are being impacted by the on-going the Middle East conflict, especially in Asia-Pacific.
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US Imports of Polyethylene Bags May Face Additional Tariffs
As reported in Plastics News, US retail plastic bag makers have filed a petition with the US government requesting an additional 25% tariff on bags from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Continue readingChina Increasingly Dominates PET Trade – China’s Exports Accounted for 45% of the Total Volume of PET Traded Globally in 2025, Up From 23% in 2020
Massive capacity expansion in China has led to growing exports to Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.
Continue readingChina Surged Past the United States in 2025 to Become the World’s Largest PVC Exporter, Accounting for 24% of Total Global Trade Volume
China exported aggressively within Asia-Pacific and to Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.
Continue readingOver 2020-2025, China – the World’s Largest Polypropylene Importer – Reduced Imports by Roughly 50% and Increased Exports by 600%
The addition of massive Chinese capacity dramatically impacted global trade flows.
Continue readingIndonesia’s New Facility Will Reduce Dependence on Imports of Polyethylene and Polypropylene From Asia-Pacific Sources
On November 6, 2025, Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto inaugurated a naphtha cracker that will produce 1 million tons of ethylene and 520,000 tons of propylene. These will reduce Indonesia’s imports of monomers, polymers, and other petrochemicals.
Continue readingLiquefied Propane Gas Global Trade Continues Expanding and Adapting to Shifting Market Dynamics
LPG global trade expanded each year over the 2020 to 2024 period and continued through April 2025. Rising US exports, increasing demand globally for LPG as a petrochemical feedstock and a cleaner fuel, and the ban on EU imports from Russia were key market drivers.
Continue readingChina’s Polymer Trade in April 2025: Record Exports, Low Imports, Huge Challenges Ahead
Following the traditional Chinese New Year slowdown in February, China’s exports of all the commodity polymers – PE, PP, PVC, Styrenics, and PET – rebounded to record levels in March and continued strong in April. Exports of fabricated products also were high. Imports were flat. Major headwinds are expected to impact exports in the coming months.
Continue readingThe US Eyes Tougher Sanctions on Countries Importing Iranian Petrochemicals
While US sanctions currently target specific companies that facilitate exports of Iranian oil, Washington is weighing a broader move: sanctions on countries that import Iranian petrochemicals. This potential escalation could impact ethylene glycol, methanol, polyethylene, and liquefied butane and propane gases, among others, with wide-ranging implications for global trade flows. Iranian export statistics show China as the largest destination for these products. Volumes do not, however, correlate with China’s import statistics.
Continue readingChina Exported Record Volumes of PE, PP, PS, PVC, and PET in March 2025. Shipments of Fabricated Plastic Products Also Surged. Imports Remained Low.
China’s exports of commodity polymers have surged each March in 2021 – 2025 following the Chinese New Year slowdown in February. March of 2025 was the highest volume ever recorded, new capacity and an uncertain trade environment adding to the strong growth trend from 2024.
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