Economic recovery was apparent in the stunning surge in China’s imports of virtually every major grade of commodity polymer in June. Import volume for the month, 3.6 million tons, was unprecedented and raised China’s YTD import total to 15.9 million tons, up 8% from the first half of 2019.
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New Capacity in North America Impacts Middle East Polyethylene Exports
North America exported higher volumes of polyethylene to every world region through May 2020, while Middle East exports to every region were down.
Continue readingProminent Trends in Western Europe’s Polyethylene Trade Through April 2020 Point to Slower Demand
A slowdown in intra-regional trade and generally lower imports from other regions, with one key exception, were prominent trends in Western Europe’s PE trade, based on the most current data available.
Continue readingUS Exports of Ethylene Polymers Reach a New High in March 2020
The impact of the pandemic was not yet evident in US exports of ethylene polymers in the first quarter, which climbed each month to an all-time monthly high of 975,000 tons in March.
Continue reading2019 – the Baseline Year Before Covid-19
2019 was a particularly important year as a baseline because it showed trends that were evolving globally before massive dislocations from Covid-19.
Continue readingIncreased PE Imports Into the EU-28 from the US in 2019 Reduced Imports from Saudi Arabia
Imports into the EU from the United States of ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers (EAOC) trended strongly higher in 2018 and 2019, while volumes from Saudi Arabia declined.
Continue readingChina’s Imports of Ethylene Polymers were up 19% in 2019; Imports of Propylene Polymers were up 9%.
Small Drop in China’s Tariffs on Polymer Imports from US
As of February 14, 2020, China will knock 2.5% off the punitive tariffs applied on imports of many polymers from the US. Most of the tariffs have been in effect since 2018.
Continue readingTrends in Western Europe’s Imports of Polyethylene in 2019
Imports of linear low density polyethylene into Western Europe from North America are projected to nearly equal the region’s imports from the Middle East by year end 2019, based on latest available statistics from 90 countries. Imports of HDPE from North America are trending sharply higher. Imports of both LLDPE and HDPE from the Middle East declined in 2018 and are projected down in 2019.
Continue readingReduced Supplies from Saudi Arabia Adds Pressure on China in the Trade War with US
Saudi Arabia is China’s top supplier of HDPE, LLDPE, MEG, DEG and styrene and also ships large volumes of polypropylene, liquefied butane gas and liquefied propane gas, among others. The recent attack on Saudi oil facilities will reduce exports of polymers and chemicals, at the same time as imports from the US are curtailed by punitive duties.
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