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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The US Eyes Tougher Sanctions on Countries Importing Iranian Petrochemicals
While US sanctions currently target specific companies that facilitate exports of Iranian oil, Washington is weighing a broader move: sanctions on countries that import Iranian petrochemicals. This potential escalation could impact ethylene glycol, methanol, polyethylene, and liquefied butane and propane gases, among others, with wide-ranging implications for global trade flows. Iranian export statistics show China as the largest destination for these products. Volumes do not, however, correlate with China’s import statistics.
Continue readingMEG Global Trade Volume Projected Down 9% in 2021, to 15.3 Million tons
The decline in the global total is primarily attributable to substantially lower imports into China, which is not expected to be offset by higher imports into Turkey, India, Mexico and Pakistan, among others.
Continue readingChina’s Imports of Commodity Polymers Through June 2021 Were Down 11% From the First Half of 2020; Exports Jumped 87%.
After a brief spike in March following the Chinese New Year, imports into China trended downward, a different trend than had been seen over the last three years. Also unusual were exports out of China, which began rising toward the end of 2020 and soared to unprecedented levels in the first half of 2021.
Continue readingUnprecedented Rise in China’s Exports of PE and PP from March 2021.
While larger volume imports remain depressed, China’s exports of PE and PP soared from March through May.
Continue readingMassive Increase in China’s Polypropylene Exports in March
China exported 245,000 tons of polypropylene homopolymer in March, 2021, roughly ten times the volume exported in prior months.
Continue readingUS Imports of Bottle-Grade PET Soar
Imports in January 2021 were double what they were in the prior January. Volume trended higher for most of 2020, reaching several new record highs.
Continue readingNew High on LNG Exports from the United States in November, 2020, China a Factor
US exports slowed during the second quarter of 2020, hovered at a low around 2 million tons per month from June through August, then climbed sharply, to over 6 million tons in November.
Continue readingThailand’s PE and PP Exports Surge in April, 2020, Indicating a Rebound in China’s Imports
Thailand’s exports of polyethylene rose sharply in March and April. Polypropylene exports shot to a new record high after two slow months. Average prices sank.
Continue readingNew LNG Capacity in Egypt Finds Markets
Egypt exported 2.9 million tons of LNG through July 2019, up 594%. Top markets were Jordan, Pakistan, China, Italy, France, Turkey and Singapore.
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