Imports of commodity polymers totaled 6.8 million tons in the first quarter, down 5% from the same period, pre-Covid-19, in 2019. Exports of a basket of fabricated plastic products were down 3%, to 2.6 million tons.
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Sharp Drop in Polyethylene Exports From Singapore and Korea to China in February 2020
Exports of ethylene polymers to China accounted for more than half of Singapore’s and Korea’s total exports in 2019 but shipments to China from both countries plummeted in January, and, especially, in February, the most current month available.
Continue readingTrends in Western Europe’s Imports of Polyethylene in 2019
Imports of linear low density polyethylene into Western Europe from North America are projected to nearly equal the region’s imports from the Middle East by year end 2019, based on latest available statistics from 90 countries. Imports of HDPE from North America are trending sharply higher. Imports of both LLDPE and HDPE from the Middle East declined in 2018 and are projected down in 2019.
Continue readingChina’s Imports of Polyethylene from the Middle East Continue to climb – Except for EVA
Imports of All Polymers of Ethylene (APOE) into Asia Pacific from the Middle East were up 9% through September 2019, to 10.5 million tons.
Continue readingGlobal Trade Projected up 6%-9% in 2019 for Polyethylene; Down Slightly for Polypropylene
Latest import/export statistics from all available countries indicate strong growth in global trade volume for polyethylene by year end 2019 but a contraction for polypropylene. Because global trade is driven by global demand, the trend in world trade volume generally indicates the trend in world demand.
Continue readingChina’s PE Imports at Record Levels Despite the US/China Trade War
Duties of 25% on imports from the US of most polyethylene grades have had little effect on China’s total imports, which were at record levels from March through May, 2019.
Continue readingPetrochemical Exports from Iran
Iran exports large volumes of polyethylene, LNG, liquefied propane and butane gases, methanol and ethylene glycol. As of April, 2019 shipments of all of these products were down versus the same period in 2018, except ethylene glycol.
Continue readingChanges in China’s Imports of Polyethylene by Region
In April 2019, for the second month in a row, China’s imports of ethylene polymers hit a new record high. Year to date, reduced volumes from North America were offset by increased volumes from Asia-Pacific sources.
Continue readingChina’s PE Imports Reach a New High in March; Exports of Fabricated Plastic Products Dampened
China’s imports of ethylene polymers slowed only slightly for the New Year holiday in February and then shot to a new record in March 2019. Exports of fabricated plastic products, however, fell sharply in February, with only a partial rebound in March.
Continue readingChina’s Commodity Polymer Imports up 20% through February 2019, despite the Chinese New Year Slowdown
China imported 4.6 million tons of commodity polymers – PE, PP, PS, PVC and PET – through February 2019, up 20% from the same period in 2018.
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