Tag Archives: Thailand

North America’s ABS, SAN, Polyacetal, Polycarbonate, PMMA and PET Trade in 2024: Key Trends and Regional Shifts

North America exported sizable volumes of polycarbonates, polyacetals, ABS and PET film/fiber grade in 2024 and imported large volumes of bottle and film/fiber grade PET, and ABS.

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China’s Polymer Trade in April 2025: Record Exports, Low Imports, Huge Challenges Ahead

Following the traditional Chinese New Year slowdown in February, China’s exports of all the commodity polymers – PE, PP, PVC, Styrenics, and PET – rebounded to record levels in March and continued strong in April. Exports of fabricated products also were high. Imports were flat. Major headwinds are expected to impact exports in the coming months.

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China Exported Record Volumes of PE, PP, PS, PVC, and PET in March 2025. Shipments of Fabricated Plastic Products Also Surged. Imports Remained Low.

China’s exports of commodity polymers have surged each March in 2021 – 2025 following the Chinese New Year slowdown in February. March of 2025 was the highest volume ever recorded, new capacity and an uncertain trade environment adding to the strong growth trend from 2024.

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Korea Increased PE, PP, and Styrenic Polymer Exports in a Difficult Trade Environment in 2024 by Shifting Export Destinations; PVC and PET Shipments Contracted

Competition from China and depressed demand globally made 2024 a particularly challenging year.

In 2024 Korea exported 4.5 million tons of ethylene polymers (all grades), up 1%; 3.8 million tons of propylene polymers, up 9%; 1.9 million tons of styrenic polymers, up 4%; 0.7 million tons of PVC, down 7%; and 0.8 million tons of PET, down 4%.

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Trends 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.

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Trends in Propylene Copolymers Global Trade

Global trade in propylene copolymers was 10 million tons in 2022, down 3% from the prior year. ITP projects another decline of 3% in 2023, to 9.7 million tons.

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Trends in EDC and VCM Global Trade

Global trade volume for both EDC and VCM trended upward from 2018 through 2020 but then diverged, with profound changes in regional, and country, imports and exports over the period.

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China’s Imports of Polypropylene Jumped 25% in 2020, to 6.8 M Tons

Higher volumes were imported from Asia-Pacific, 4.9 million tons, up 24%, the Middle East, 1.4 million tons, up 26%, as well as all other regions. Average prices soared from August through December, reaching $1190/ton.

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China’s PE and PP Imports Slow in July and August 2020

China’s imports of ethylene polymers dropped from a record high of 2.1 million tons in June to 1.8 million tons in August. Imports of propylene polymers fell from 840,000 tons in June, another record, to 580,000 tons. Despite the declines, imports YTD are up substantially for both polymer groups.

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