New capacity, government regulations, and demand in diverse industries impacted global trade in the BPA to PC film/sheet product train.
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Projected Global Trade Volume in 2025: Methacrylates, 1.3 million Tons, down 1% from 2024; PMMA Polymer, 0.6 million Tons, down 4%; PMMA Film/Sheet, 0.7 million Tons, down 1%
Regional export flows shifted in 2025, pressured by lower global trade volume, weak demand, and new capacity.
Continue readingITP Projects General Purpose Polystyrene Global Trade of 3.3 Million Tons in 2025, up 2%; Expandable Polystyrene Global Trade is Projected at 2.6 million tons, up 5%
Higher exports of both polymer grades are projected from Western Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Continue readingITP Projects PVC Global Trade of 15.7 Million Tons in 2025, up 10% from 2024
Rising exports out of North America are a prominent trend in 2025.
Continue readingITP Projects HDPE Global Trade of 27.2 Million Tons in 2025, up 3% from 2024
Large percentage gains are projected on exports of HDPE from North America for 2025 versus 2024, on higher volumes to all regional markets. Middle East exports are projected flat for the year.
Continue readingITP Projects ABS Global Trade Volume in 2025 Down 2%; Prominent Trends Include an Increase in APAC Exports, a Decline in WE Exports, and Lower Intra-regional Trade for Both Regions.
ABS global trade is projected at 4.1 million tons in 2025, down 2% from 2024. Prominent trends include an increase in Asia-Pacific exports to other regions, a decline in exports from Western Europe to other regions, and lower intra-regional trade in both regions.
Continue readingUAE Polyethylene and Polypropylene Exports Are Projected to Decline in 2025, with Losses in Asia-Pacific Only Partly Offset by Gains in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America; Historic Data Shows Major Re-Exports
UAE exports of polyethylene (all grades) are projected at 3.8 million tons yearend 2025, down 1%; polypropylene, 1.6 million tons, down 6% (based on import statistics from all available publishing countries, as the UAE does not publish timely statistics). The latest export data for UAE, for 2023 (from UN Comtrade), shows much lower exports out of UAE than is reported by trading partners as imports from UAE as the country of origin.
Continue readingUS Polyethylene Exports Shift to Other Regions, Offsetting Lower Volumes to Asia-Pacific
The US exported 9.1 million tons of polyethylene (all grades combined) through July 2025, up 5% from the same period in 2024. Trade with Asia-Pacific slowed, but there were strong gains to Eastern Europe and Africa and moderate increases to Western Europe and Latin America. Average prices remained depressed.
Continue readingMassive Surge in China’s Exports of Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Styrenics, PVC, and PET Through July 2025, at Record Low Prices
Overcapacity, weak domestic demand, and the attraction of very low prices in an uncertain global economic environment were evident in the 29% jump in China’s commodity polymer exports July 2025 YTD, to 11.1 million tons, on gains to every region except North America. Average prices sank to their lowest levels in over five years, most polymers losing roughly $1000/ton from highs in 2021/2022, PET an exception, losing $400.
Continue readingAsia-Pacific’s ABS, SAN, Polyacetal, Polycarbonate, PMMA, and PET Trade in 2024: Key Trends and Regional Shifts
Asia-Pacific was the world’s largest exporter of all of these engineering polymers in 2024 and volumes were up from the prior year, especially for PET. Asia-Pacific was also the world’s largest importer of polyacetals, polycarbonates, and PMMA. Trade flows shifted markedly for both exports and imports.
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