After several slow months China’s imports of ethylene polymers in August 2022 were up by 140,000 tons from July. The 12% fall off in imports YTD, to 10.5 million tons, led to increased exports by Asia-Pacific exporters to Western and Eastern Europe and Africa.
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US Exports of Ethylene Polymers Surged in March, 2022, and Continued High in April
Shipments totaled 3.2 million tons through April, up 5.3% from the same period in 2021, on a big gain to Western Europe and higher volumes to all other regions except Asia-Pacific.
Continue readingChina Commodity Polymer Trade April 2022 Reflected Continued Weak Economic Activity From Covid Lockdowns
Polymer imports in April were almost as low as during Chinese New Year; exports of PVC hit a new high and shipments of PET also remained high; exports of fabricated plastic products continued slow.
Continue readingRussia’s Exports of Polyolefins to Western and Eastern Europe
Russia exports more than twice as much ethylene and propylene polymers to other Eastern European countries than it does to Western Europe. Turkey and Poland are the top two destinations in Eastern Europe. Flows to Poland, other EU countries within Eastern Europe, and the Ukraine are most likely to be affected by the war in Ukraine.
Continue readingImpressive Surge in US Exports of Polyethylene in March, 2022
The United States exported 966,000 tons of ethylene polymers in March, 2022, an increase of 160,000 tons over February. Shipments of every PE grade were up in March. Further increases are likely with startup of new capacity.
Continue readingChina’s Imports and Exports of Commodity Polymers Dropped With the Start of Chinese New Year on February 1st, but Trends Differed From Prior Periods.
Reflecting both new domestic capacity and weaker domestic demand, imports in February 2022 continued depressed and, unlike prior years, did not show the surge typically seen in the month prior to the national holiday. Exports surged in December, then slowed in January and February.
Continue readingWestern Europe Exports to Russia More of Most Major Polymers than it Imports from Russia, with the Exception of Polypropylene.
Western Europe’s polymer trade with Russia, particularly in polyolefins, styrenic polymers and PVC, will be impacted by sanctions and broken supply chains from the war in Ukraine.
Continue readingUkraine Exports and Imports Numerous Polymers and Chemicals that Will Likely be Impacted by the Conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukraine exports sizable volumes of benzene, caustic soda, propylene monomer and PVC, and, imports polyethylene, polypropylene, liquefied propane and butane gas and PET.
Ukraine’s top export markets include Italy, Poland, Turkey, Czech Rep., Russia and Spain, among others. Russia is Ukraine’s top import source for LDPE, polypropylene, methanol and liquefied propane and butane gas.
This table shows Ukraine’s total exports and imports in 2021 and top trading partners for each:
From International Trader Publications’ World Trade Analyses, continuously updated analysis of trade between countries and regions for each product.
Continue readingTrends in China’s Trade in Commodity Polymers in 2021
Unlike prior years, imports of commodity polymers did not surge into China toward yearend 2021 in advance of the Chinese Year slowdown. Also unusual was the sharp rise in exports out of China in December. The year ended with commodity polymer imports down 19%, to 27.5 million tons, and exports up 74%, to 8.9 million tons.
Continue readingTrends in Russia’s Exports of Polyolefins
Much lower exports to Asia-Pacific in 2021 versus 2020, due to a steep drop in shipments to China, shifted Russian exports toward Eastern Europe, Western Europe and, with smaller volumes, Latin America and Africa.
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