Key factors in the trends were feedstock shortages from the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz and aggressive exporting by China.
Continue readingTag Archives: Thailand
Global PVC Trade (Compounded and Uncompounded) Rose 5% to 8.2 Million Tons Through May 2026 as Exports From China, Korea, and Thailand Soared
India and Vietnam were key export destinations, but shipments to numerous destinations were up, particularly countries in Eastern Europe and Africa. Trade within the Asia-Pacific region expanded by 13%, to 2.8 million tons.
Continue readingUS Exports of Linear Polyethylene Hit a Record in March 2026 as Trade Flows Shift Globally
Half of the world’s polyethylene comes from the Middle East and some of it is on, estimated by Al Jezeera, 2000 vessels still stuck in the Strait of Hormuz.
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 readingGlobal Trade in PE Film/Sheet and PE Bags/Sacks Continued to Rise in 2025 Despite Bans on Single-Use Products
Global trade in PE film/sheet rose 8% in 2025 to 7.4 million tons; trade in PE bags/sacks grew by 6% to 5 million tons. This followed gains of about 6% per product in 2024, compared to 2023.
Continue readingUnited States Imports of PET Sank in November 2025 As Reciprocal Tariffs Hit Supplies From Vietnam, Thailand, and Others
US imports slowed from 132,000 tons in September to 117,000 tons in October, then plunged to 77,000 tons in November.
Continue readingChina Surged Past the United States in 2025 to Become the World’s Largest PVC Exporter, Accounting for 24% of Total Global Trade Volume
China exported aggressively within Asia-Pacific and to Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.
Continue readingOver 2020-2025, China – the World’s Largest Polypropylene Importer – Reduced Imports by Roughly 50% and Increased Exports by 600%
The addition of massive Chinese capacity dramatically impacted global trade flows.
Continue readingChina’s Imports of Commodity Polymers Continued Low in October 2025; Exports Stabilized Near Record Levels
China imported 18.3 million tons of all grades of PE, PP, PS, PVC, and PET through October 2025, down 8% on declines across all the polymers. Exports were 15.8 million tons, up 27%, with shipments of all polymers showing strong gains. Trade for the month was likely negatively impacted by the one week holiday celebrating China’s National Day, October 1-8.
Continue readingIndonesia’s New Facility Will Reduce Dependence on Imports of Polyethylene and Polypropylene From Asia-Pacific Sources
On November 6, 2025, Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto inaugurated a naphtha cracker that will produce 1 million tons of ethylene and 520,000 tons of propylene. These will reduce Indonesia’s imports of monomers, polymers, and other petrochemicals.
Continue reading