Polyolefin polymer demand in Western Europe in 2023 is measurable in part from the region’s intra-regional trade, its imports from other regions, and its exports to other regions. Lower intra-regional trade and lower imports indicate a drop in demand from one year to the next. These were evident in 2023 versus 2022 for LDPE, linear PE, HDPE, and PP homopolymer. Lower polymer demand in a region is also usually associated with an increase in a region’s exports, if conditions make this possible. Western Europe’s exports of HDPE did increase in 2023, but shipments of other polymers were constrained by low demand in other regions and surging exports from North America.
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Trends in Recyclable Polyethylene in 2023
Global trade volume in recyclable polyethylene polymer in 2023 dropped 2% from 2022, to 3.0 million tons, indicating weaker global demand. Key trends included lower intra-regional trade in Western Europe and Asia-Pacific, lower imports into Western Europe and a surge in imports into Asia-Pacific on material sourced mainly from Western Europe and North America. Average prices steadied in the second half of 2023 at low levels.
Continue readingTrends in China’s Trade in Commodity Polymers in 2023
China’s imports of commodity polymers as a total of all grades of PE, PP, styrenics, PVC and PET, declined for the third year in a row, a loss of nearly 10 million tons of volume over the 2020-2023 period. Exports of the combined total climbed for the third year in a row, increasing by nearly 7 million tons. Shipments of manufactured products identifiable as plastic showed a small gain of 0.7 million tons in 2023, rising to 16.7 million tons.
Continue readingTrends in Global Trade in Polypropylene and Propylene Copolymers in 2023
The volume traded globally of both polymers fell for the second year in a row, primarily on trends in Western Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Continue readingAcrylonitrile Global Trade Trends
For most of the last ten years the volume of acrylonitrile (ACN) traded globally has trended downward. The exception was the period 2018 to 2021 when trade volume initially increased, then steadied, paralleling the trend in global trade in ABS polymer, its largest end use. There have been major shifts in ACN trade between regions over the period.
Continue readingTrends in EVA Global Trade
Global trade in ethylene-vinyl-acetate copolymers increased by 76% from 2013 to 2023 (projected). On a regional level, over the last five years, there were strong gains on exports from Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and North America and on imports into Asia-Pacific, Africa and Eastern Europe. Western Europe’s trade in EVA declined.
Continue readingTrends in Polypropylene Global Trade
Global trade in polypropylene homopolymer was 21.9 million tons in 2022, down 4% from the prior year. ITP projects a 3% decline in global trade volume in 2023, to 21.2 million tons.
Continue readingTrends in Ethylene-alpha-Olefins Copolymers Global Trade
Global trade in ethylene-alpha-olefins copolymers (EAOC) was 14.1 million tons in 2022. ITP projects a 7% increase in global trade in 2023, to 15.1 million tons.
Continue readingTrends in LDPE/LLDPE Global Trade
Global trade in LDPE/LLDPE was 22.3 million tons in 2022. LDPE/LLDPE accounted for 33% of the 68 million tons of all grades of ethylene polymers traded globally that year.
Continue readingTrends in High Density Polyethylene Global Trade
Global trade in high density polyethylene in 2022 was 25.1 million tons. HDPE accounted for 37% of the 68 million tons of polyethylene traded globally that year.
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