A surge in imports of these and other polymers and chemicals have led to warnings of an existential crisis for the European chemical industry, and, have led INEOS to announce plans to file 10 major anti-dumping cases to protect these strategic materials.
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China’s Imports of Commodity Polymers Continued Low in October 2025; Exports Stabilized Near Record Levels
China imported 18.3 million tons of all grades of PE, PP, PS, PVC, and PET through October 2025, down 8% on declines across all the polymers. Exports were 15.8 million tons, up 27%, with shipments of all polymers showing strong gains. Trade for the month was likely negatively impacted by the one week holiday celebrating China’s National Day, October 1-8.
Continue readingIndia’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.
Continue readingIndia Imported Record High Volumes of Film/Sheet Fabricated from PE, PP, and PET in July/August 2025; Prices Were at Their Lowest in Over Two Years
Through August 2025, the most current month available for India, imports of PE film/sheet totaled 282,000 tons, up 52% from the same period the year before. Imports of PP film/sheet were 67,000 tons, up 64%; PET film/sheet, 84,000 tons, up 76%.
Continue readingBrazil’s Soaring 2024 Polyethylene Imports Eased Somewhat Through September 2025; the Remainder of 2025 is Expected to be Impacted by Anti-Dumping Duties on US Polymer; Braskem Plans new Polyethylene Capacity in 2028
Brazil’s imports of polyethylene were at record high levels for most of 2024. Trade through September 2025 slowed versus the prior year, but the impact of a recent anti-dumping ruling against polymer imports from the US and Canada is expected to be realized in the fourth quarter.
Continue readingTrends 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.
Continue readingUAE Polyethylene and Polypropylene Exports Are Projected to Decline in 2025, with Losses in Asia-Pacific Only Partly Offset by Gains in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America; Historic Data Shows Major Re-Exports
UAE exports of polyethylene (all grades) are projected at 3.8 million tons yearend 2025, down 1%; polypropylene, 1.6 million tons, down 6% (based on import statistics from all available publishing countries, as the UAE does not publish timely statistics). The latest export data for UAE, for 2023 (from UN Comtrade), shows much lower exports out of UAE than is reported by trading partners as imports from UAE as the country of origin.
Continue readingUS Polyethylene Exports Shift to Other Regions, Offsetting Lower Volumes to Asia-Pacific
The US exported 9.1 million tons of polyethylene (all grades combined) through July 2025, up 5% from the same period in 2024. Trade with Asia-Pacific slowed, but there were strong gains to Eastern Europe and Africa and moderate increases to Western Europe and Latin America. Average prices remained depressed.
Continue readingMassive Surge in China’s Exports of Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Styrenics, PVC, and PET Through July 2025, at Record Low Prices
Overcapacity, weak domestic demand, and the attraction of very low prices in an uncertain global economic environment were evident in the 29% jump in China’s commodity polymer exports July 2025 YTD, to 11.1 million tons, on gains to every region except North America. Average prices sank to their lowest levels in over five years, most polymers losing roughly $1000/ton from highs in 2021/2022, PET an exception, losing $400.
Continue readingTurkey Imports Record Volumes of Polyethylene in April and May, Partly Because of a US Pivot from China
New capacity, weak demand and tariff uncertainties resulted in a 6% drop, to 1.1 million tons, in China’s imports of polyethylene from the US. Some US polymer has been directed to Turkey.
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