Through May, 2017, China imported a total of 5.4 million tons of ethylene polymers, up 17% from the same period in 2016. Iran supplied 823,000 tons, or 15%, of the total, down 7%. A restriction on imports into China from Iran, will likely be made up by Saudi Arabia, US, Korea and UAE, among others.
Tag Archives: Russia
Global Trade in Propylene Glycol up Slightly; Asia-Pacific Exports Rise to Several Markets
The volume of propylene glycol traded globally showed a 1% rise through August 2016, to over 600,000 tons, based on earliest available data.
Record Exports of Polymers from China
An important trend since March 2016 has been record exports of polymers from China. Exports of PVC surged in March and continued high through August, as did exports of PET. Shipments of polyolefins were heavy from March through June/July, but slowed in August.
China’s PET and PVC Polymer Exports Fall in 2015
PET and PVC are China’s largest commodity polymer exports but shipments of both were down substantially in 2015 versus 2014.
P-Xylene: Current Global Trade Trends
In 2014, global trade in para-xylene totaled 15.8 million tons, up 2% from the prior year. Trade volume through June of 2015 was up 12% from the same period in 2014, based on reporting countries. Global trade volume is an indicator of global demand.
Polyethylene Sheets and Other Flat Products: Current Global Trade Trends
In 2014, global trade in polyethylene sheets and other flat products (film, foil and strip) totaled 4.4 million tons, up 2% from the prior year. Trade volume through June of 2015 was up 3% from the same period in the prior year, based on reporting countries. Global trade volume is an indicator of global demand.
Polyethylene Bags, Sacks and Cones: Current Global Trade Trends
In 2014, global trade in fabricated products made from polyethylene into bags, sacks and cones totaled 3.7 million tons, up 1% from the prior year. Trade volume through June of 2015 was also up 1% from last year, based on reporting countries. Global trade volume is an indicator of global demand.
PVC Sheets and Other Flat Products: Current Global Trade Trends
Nearly 800,000 tons of sheet and other flat products (film, foil and strip) made from PVC were traded globally in 2014, up 3% from the prior year. Trade volume through June of 2015 was down 3%, based on reporting countries. Global trade volume is an indicator of global demand.
Polypropylene: Current Global Trade Trends
The volume of polypropylene homopolymer traded globally, 6.1 million tons, was up 3% through May 2015 versus the prior year. Shipments from the Middle East and Western Europe were up; North America’s contracted slightly; exports from Eastern Europe jumped by over 50%.
LDPE: Current Global Trade Trends
The volume of LDPE polymer traded globally, 4.4 million tons, was up 3% through May, 2015, based on reporting countries. Expanded trade within Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and increased imports into Latin America and Eastern Europe were factors in the higher global trade volume. Shipments by two of the top three exporting regions, Middle East and North America, were down, and shipments from Western Europe were unchanged, lower volumes to Asia-Pacific a factor. Continue reading