As reported in Business Indonesia, the removal of tariffs on linear low-density polyethylene, HDPE, and polypropylene began in May 2026 and is to extend for six month. The removal of these duties, and also from LPG imports, was intended to reduce prices along the packaging chain.
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India and Thailand, Both Large Polyolefin Importers, had Higher Volumes YTD Despite Reduced Middle East Supply
The conflict in the Middle East has shifted trade flows between regions. For India and Thailand, the shortfall from the Middle East was offset by increased supplies from Asia-Pacific, and, for polyethylene, also North America.
Continue readingProfound Changes in South Korea’s Polyolefins Trade in April 2026: Record Imports of Polymer & Fabricated Plastic Products; Steep Drop in Exports; Soaring Prices
The Iranian conflict and resulting constraints on feedstocks and raw materials were apparent in Korea’s trade in April.
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 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 readingNew US Sanctions on Russian Petrochemical Exports, if Passed, Would: Impact Trade in Polyolefins, Liquefied Gases, Rubber and Other Products; Affect Many Importing Countries; and Cripple Russia’s Economy
The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, introduced in both the US Senate and the House of Representatives in April 2025, is currently in committee. Its enactment is far from certain and depends on negotiations toward peace between Russia and Ukraine. Were it to pass, the impact on Russia would be crippling because of the country’s reliance on exports of energy and related products.
Continue readingMajor Trends in China’s Polymer Trade August 2024 YTD: Low Polyolefin Imports; Growing Polymer Exports; Record Shipments of Plastic Products
A slow economy, weak domestic demand and the availability of new capacity are reflected in China’s polymer trade. Through August, China imported 15.9 million tons of commodity polymers, unchanged from the same period last year and substantially lower than in earlier periods; exported growing volumes, with 9.9 million tons shipped through August, up 27%; and, shipped a record 12.5 million tons of identifiable plastic products, up 17%. Commodity polymers include polyolefins, styrenics, vinyl polymers and PET.
Continue readingTrends in Polyolefin Polymer Trade in Western Europe in 2023
Polyolefin polymer demand in Western Europe in 2023 is measurable in part from the region’s intra-regional trade, its imports from other regions, and its exports to other regions. Lower intra-regional trade and lower imports indicate a drop in demand from one year to the next. These were evident in 2023 versus 2022 for LDPE, linear PE, HDPE, and PP homopolymer. Lower polymer demand in a region is also usually associated with an increase in a region’s exports, if conditions make this possible. Western Europe’s exports of HDPE did increase in 2023, but shipments of other polymers were constrained by low demand in other regions and surging exports from North America.
Continue readingTrends in China’s Polyolefin Polymer Trade Through February 2924
Polyethylene polymer import and export volumes were higher versus February YTD 2023, but at depressed prices. Imports of polypropylene were down sharply; low-priced export volumes climbed.
Continue readingVietnam is a Major Importer of Many Polymers, Chemicals and Related Products
Polyolefins, PTA, liquefied propane gas, soda ash, PVC, MEG, PET and methanol were leading imports, with sizable volumes also of recyclable PE, ABS, polycarbonates and caustic soda.
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