Public outcry in Turkey over piles of plastic waste dumped on roadsides, burning, and floating in rivers led the Turkish government to ban imports of recyclable polyethylene. In 2020, imports of RPE from Western Europe totaled 360,000 tons.
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Trends in US Exports of Recyclable Polymers
US exports of recyclable polymers fell from nearly 2 million tons in 2016 to 624,000 tons in 2020. The rate of decline slowed from 2018 through 2020 but new US government initiatives to cut greenhouse gases and reduce plastic waste may have an impact.
Continue readingMassive Increase in China’s Polypropylene Exports in March
China exported 245,000 tons of polypropylene homopolymer in March, 2021, roughly ten times the volume exported in prior months.
Continue readingThe Volume of Recyclable PE Traded Globally in 2020 Rose by 9% From the Prior Year, to 2.8 Million tons.
Imports into Eastern Europe were particularly strong. Imports into Asia-Pacific also increased, despite China’s import ban. Expanded trade within Western Europe, Eastern Europe and North America were also factors in the increase.
Continue readingRussia’s PE and PP Exports Soar in 2020; LPG Exports Drop
SIBUR’s addition of new polyolefins capacity in western Siberia was reflected in Russia’s export figures for 2020 which set new record highs for HDPE, LLDPE and PP. As a result, Russia exported substantially lower volumes of liquefied propane gas, which is used as a feedstock in the new plant.
Continue readingMEG Exports From Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and UAE as of October, 2020 are Down from Last Year; Iran Shipped Higher Volumes
Competing shipments from North America impacted MEG exporters in the Middle East.
Continue readingRecent Trends in Styrene Exports from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
Both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia exported more styrene through October, 2020, versus the same period last year, but Kuwait’s shipments to China increased while Saudi exports to that destination showed a decline.
Continue readingKorea’s Polyethylene Exports Down in November and December, on Lower Demand from China
Korea exported record volumes of polyethylene for most of 2020, but shipments dropped toward yearend on much lower volumes to China.
Continue readingNew High on LNG Exports from the United States in November, 2020, China a Factor
US exports slowed during the second quarter of 2020, hovered at a low around 2 million tons per month from June through August, then climbed sharply, to over 6 million tons in November.
Continue readingContrasts Between Iran and United Arab Emirates Exports of Polyethylene
Iran and UAE do not publish timely trade statistics, but, their exports are visible in large part from trading partner import statistics. For Iran, these show a drop in polyethylene exports through August 2020 and dependence on a limited number of markets; for UAE, these show export growth and a broader range of markets.
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