Tag Archives: PVC floor and wall coverings

China Ships Record Volumes of Fabricated Plastic Products Yearend 2020, on Pandemic-Related Demand

China manufactures countless plastic products. Trade in some of these products can be identified by specific polymers while other products are made from a number of polymers and fall into groups defined by end uses. Exports of these products combined totaled 13.9 million tons in 2020, up 10% from 2019. The pandemic created strong demand for PPP related products, packaging, household items and builders’ materials.

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New Record High on China’s Exports of PVC Floor and Wall Coverings in June 2020, US the top Destination

Although China’s exports remain depressed of many fabricated plastic products that can be identified by specific polymer, shipments of PVC floor and wall coverings set a new record in June 2020, mainly on volumes to the United States.

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Korea Exported Record Volumes of PE in March 2020 and Imported High Volumes of Fabricated Plastic Products, Trade with China a Key Factor

Shipments to China accounted for most of the surge in Korea’s exports; China was the source of most of Korea’s imports of fabricated plastic products.

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China’s Imports of Ethylene Polymers Hit a New High in November, 2019. Fabricated Product Exports Remained Depressed.

China’s imports of ethylene polymers surged in November in advance of the Chinese New Year holiday that begins January 25, 2020. Exports of fabricated products trended higher in October and November, but remained below levels reached earlier in the year, and also in 2018, largely because of the trade war with the US.

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Surge in US Exports of PE in March 2019; Declining Imports of Fabricated Plastic Products

The US exported 800,000 tons of ethylene polymers in March 2019, a new record. Imports of fabricated plastic products, many of which come from China, were impacted by the US-China trade war.

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Update on the US – China Trade War

Late on Friday, May 3, a diplomatic cable from China to Washington edited out core provisions from the 150-page draft agreement that had been the result of months of negotiations between the two countries. Instead of a signing ceremony possibly by the end of May, the US will now raise duties from 10% to 25% on $200 B of imports from China at 12:01 AM on May 10th and may apply duties to an additional $325 B that have not yet been hit with duties – essentially impacting everything the US imports from China.

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US Commodity Polymer Trade in 2018

US statistics for December, delayed by the government shutdown, are now available and show large increases for the year on exports of ethylene polymers, on imports of propylene polymers and PET, and, on imports of some fabricated plastic products.

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US-China Trade War Update

The March 1 deadline for an increase from 10% to 25% in tariffs by the US on $200 Billion of imports from China has been postponed, but tariffs on many polymers and chemicals put in place earlier by both countries remain.

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Brazil’s Polymer Trade in 2018

Brazil imported 1.9 million tons of commodity polymers in 2018, up 11%. Exports were smaller, 1.6 million tons, and fell by 17%. Trade in recycle polymers was minor, noting a sharp drop in exports. Fabricated plastic product imports totaled 173,000 tons, up 9%; exports were 133,000 tons, up 3%.

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Korea’s Polymer Trade in 2018

Korea exported 10 million tons of commodity polymers in 2018, up 4% from the prior year, imported 900,000 tons of commodity polymers, up 15%, plus an additional 150,000 tons of recycle polymers, up 141%.

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