Preliminary figures for 2016 indicate a 6% increase in global trade volume in polyethylene film and sheet, to just under 5 million tons.
Tag Archives: North America
Global Trends in VAM Trade
Global trade in VAM was up 3% through July, 2016, to 1.1 million tons, indicating a small rise in global demand. Key trends contributing to the increased volume were higher imports into Western Europe and expanded trade within the Asia-Pacific region. Continue reading
Global Trends in Acetic Acid Trade
A 3% increase in global trade volume, to nearly 2 million tons, indicated growth in global demand for acetic acid through July 2016. The increase mainly reflected expanded intra-regional trade within Western Europe and Asia-Pacific. Continue reading
Recent Trends in Butadiene Trade
Substantially higher butadiene export from Western Europe and Latin America were prominent trade trends through May, 2016.
Recent Trends in Propylene Monomer Trade
Much higher propylene monomer exports from both North America and Western Europe to Latin America were among the trends visible in global propylene trade through March, 2016.
Impact on Western Europe of Reduced PVC Supplies from Mexico
The April 20, 2016 blast at the Petroquimica Mexicana de Vinilo plant at Coatzacoalcos, Mexico is expected to reduce Mexico’s exports of PVC, which go mainly to Western Europe.
Benzene Global Trade Trends
Over 9 million tons of benzene were traded globally in 2015, up 16% from 2014. Prominent regional trends during the year included: higher Asia-Pacific exports and also expanded trade within that region; increased imports into North America; increased imports into Western Europe; and, in the Middle East sharply higher trade, both imports and exports, with imports exceeding exports. Early data for 2016 indicates a continuation of these trends.
Propylene Copolymers Global Trade Trends
Large volumes of both propylene copolymers and polypropylene homopolymer are traded globally. In 2015, propylene copolymer trade totaled 8.4 million tons, up 5%. This compared with 17.3 million tons of polypropylene homopolymer trade, up 3%.
US Methanol Exports Set New Record Early in 2016
There has been an upward trend in United States exports of methanol for several months with shipments in both January and February 2016 at new record levels. Continue reading
Major Trends in Ethylene and Propylene Monomer Global Trade in 2015
The volume of ethylene monomer traded globally in 2015 was up 12% from 2014; propylene monomer trade expanded 11%. Much higher shipments from North America to Asia-Pacific, and substantially reduced exports from the Middle East to that region, were prominent features of global ethylene trade. North America also exported much higher volumes of propylene, but nearly all of it to Latin America. The Middle East increased its propylene exports to Asia-Pacific.