Tag Archives: Middle East

India’s Demand for Polyolefins Continues to Grow, and With It the Incentive to Reduce Import Dependency.

India is currently the world’s second largest importer of polyethylene, with volume (all PE grades) in 2024 of 3.1 million tons, a distant second after China’s 16.7 million tons. India ranks third in polypropylene imports (all grades) with 1.6 million tons in 2024, following China with 4 million tons and Turkey with 2.4 million tons.

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ITP 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.

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Trends in Oman’s Exports of Polyolefins

Startup of the Liwa Plastics Industry Complex in Sohar in 2020/2021 boosted Oman’s production capacity for polyethylene by 880,000 tons per year, and polypropylene by 300,000 tons per year. This led to a surge in exports, although lower global demand and increased competition, among other factors, impacted shipments in 2024 and are projected to also affect 2025.

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New POM Capacity in China is Projected to Lower Global Trade Volume in 2025 by 6% from 2024, to 1.2 Million Tons

Lower imports into China, together with rising exports from China, will impact trade flows out of Western Europe, North America, and the Middle East.

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Sharp Drop in China’s Imports of Liquefied Propane Gas from US

In 2024, China reported imports of liquefied propane gas from the US of 17.3 million tons, up 37% from 2023. Through August of 2025, China’s imports from US were down 28%, to 8.2 million tons, the shortfall filled by Middle East and other sources.

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ITP Projects Polycarbonate Polymer Global Trade Volume of 3.9 Million Tons in 2025, up 2% from 2024

Prominent trends include: much higher exports out of the Middle East; higher exports also out of Western Europe and Asia-Pacific; increased imports into every world region except Africa and North America.

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ITP 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.

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ITP Projects PP Homopolymer Global Trade Volume in 2025 Up 2% vs. 2024, Copolymers Volume, Unchanged; Middle East and APAC Battle for European and African Markets as China’s Exports Soar.

Polypropylene homopolymer global trade is projected at 22.5 million tons in 2025, up 2% from 2024; propylene copolymers trade adds another 10.3 million tons, unchanged.

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