For the second year in a row, imports of commodity polymers into China were down and exports of most commodity polymers were up, the result of weak demand due to Covid lockdowns. The year ended with commodity polymer imports totaling 25 million tons, down 9% from 2021. This followed a 19% drop in 2021 versus 2020. Commodity polymer exports were 10.8 million tons in 2022, up 22%. This followed a 74% jump in 2021 versus 2020.
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ITP Projects China’s Imports of Polyolefins Down Substantially in 2022; Smaller Volume Exports are Projected Up, Especially for Polyethylene.
Weak demand in China as a result of stringent Covid restrictions was reflected in lower imports of polyolefins into China, and higher exports out of China, in each of the last two years.
Continue readingLower Polyolefin Exports from Russia Indicated by Trading Partner Import Statistics Through June 2022 and Projected Through August
Russia stopped publishing trade statistics after January 2022. Russia’s exports, however, are visible from trading partner import statistics in ITP’s World Trade Matrixes. These indicate declines for both Russia’s exports of polymers of ethylene and propylene.
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 readingChina Removes Tariffs on Four Specific Grades of Polyolefins from the US, Prior to the Phase I China – US Trade Agreement
China removed the 25% tariff on imports from the US of specific grades of HDPE, linear low density polyethylene, polypropylene and ethylene-propylene copolymers as of December 26, 2019.
Continue readingSurge in US Exports of Polyethylene and Polypropylene
The new year started off strong for US exports of polyolefins, with heavy shipments in January 2017 of HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, polypropylene homopolymer and propylene copolymers. Continue reading
China’s Polyolefins Trade in 2015
China ended 2015 with imports of polyolefins up 10% from 2014. Imports of HDPE and EVA were particularly strong, up 12% and 27%, respectively. In addition to higher volumes from the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, supplies from North America and Latin America rose sharply.
Huge jump in China’s polyolefin imports
The end of the Chinese New Year holiday, low prices, plus a new government stimulus effort and the anticipation of additional measures to come, resulted in a massive increase in China’s imports of polyolefin and other polymers in March, 2015. Continue reading
Update on US Polymer Exports – Mostly Down
Through September 2014, US exports of polyolefins, styrenics and PVC have either declined versus the prior year or been unchanged, despite the positive effects of increased US shale gas production on energy and feedstocks. Continue reading
Iran’s Polyolefin Exports up Sharply
Iran shipped much higher volumes of HDPE, LDPE and polypropylene through August 2014 versus the prior year. Continue reading