From the start of the conflict on February 28, 2026, flows through the Strait of Hormuz have been restricted by both Iran and the US. The US increasingly imposed sanctions on Iranian vessels and its growing shadow fleet.
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Thailand Imported 0.5 Million Tons of Polyethylene Through June 2026 YTD, up 46% vs 2025, and Exported 1.1 Million Tons, Down 20%
Key factors in the trends were feedstock shortages from the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz and aggressive exporting by China.
Continue readingChina Exported Record Volumes of PE Polymer and Fabricated PE Film/Sheet, PE Bags/Sacks in the First Half of 2026
Constrained supplies of polymer and feedstocks from the Middle East provided China with opportunities to sell PE polymer and fabricated PE products globally.
Continue readingPE Global Trade Down 4% May 2026 YTD: Lower Exports From the Middle East Partly Offset by Higher Shipments From APAC; North American Shipments Flat as Regional Flows Shifted
Polyethylene global trade (all grades combined) is projected at 29.0 million tons through May 2026, a decline of 1.4 million tons from May 2025 YTD.
Continue readingMethanol Global Trade Down 12% May 2026 YTD vs 2025 on Much Lower Middle East Exports to Asia-Pacific and Western Europe
Through May 2026, 13.2 million tons of methanol were traded globally, a decline of 1.9 million tons from May 2025 YTD.
Continue readingAnhydrous Ammonia Global Trade Down 14% May 2026 YTD vs 2025 on Much Lower Middle East Exports; North American and Chinese Shipments Surged
Anhydrous ammonia global trade is projected at 6.6 million tons through May 2026, down from 7.2 million tons May 2025 YTD.
Continue readingTrends in Anhydrous Ammonia Global Trade 2021-2025; Implications for 2026
Global trade patterns in anhydrous ammonia shifted to counter the effect of the Ukraine-Russia conflict that began in 2022. The current shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a major part of the world’s anhydrous ammonia is shipped (in addition to the natural gas that is used for anhydrous ammonia production in other regions), will again disrupt trade flows and also threaten the global fertilizer outlook.
Continue readingEthylene Exports from the Middle East – Impact of Supply Disruption
The conflict that began in Iran on February 28, 2026 has spread across the region, curtailing production and delaying or rerouting shipments of ethylene through the Strait of Hormuz. Middle East shipments of ethylene in 2025 were 238,000 tons, accounting for 20% of total global exports of 1.2 million tons.
Continue readingPolycarbonates Exports from the Middle East – Impact of Supply Disruption
The conflict that began in Iran on February 28, 2026 has spread across the region, curtailing production and delaying or rerouting shipments of polycarbonates through the Strait of Hormuz. The Middle East is the world’s third largest exporter of polycarbonates; shipments of 318,000 tons in 2025 were 20% of total global exports of 1.6 million tons.
Continue readingMethanol Exports from the Middle East – Impact of Supply Disruption
The conflict that began in Iran on February 28, 2026 has spread across the region, curtailing production and delaying or rerouting shipments of methanol through the Strait of Hormuz. Middle East exports of methanol of 17.5 million tons in 2025 were 56% of total global exports of 31.1 million tons.
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