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: UAE
China’s Polyolefins Trade in 2015
China ended 2015 with imports of polyolefins up 10% from 2014. Imports of HDPE and EVA were particularly strong, up 12% and 27%, respectively. In addition to higher volumes from the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, supplies from North America and Latin America rose sharply.
Focus on: Iran’s Polymer and Chemical Exports in the First Half of 2015
Iran’s exports of several large volume polymers and chemicals were up sharply in the first half of 2015 versus the prior year. These products were shipped primarily to just three markets, China, India and Turkey, a situation which will change should sanctions be lifted. Continue reading
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.
Focus on: UAE Exports of Polyethylene and Polypropylene
The United Arab Emirates’ exports of polyethylene and polypropylene increased substantially in 2014, and shipments grew through the first half of 2015.
Focus on: China’s Chemical Trade in the First Half of 2015
There were spectacular increases on imports of several large volume chemicals and polymers into China in the first half of 2015, and declines on others.
Propylene Copolymers: Current Global Trade Trends
The volume of propylene copolymers traded globally, 3.2 million tons, was up 8% through May, 2015 from the prior year, based on reporting countries. (This compares with a 3% increase in exports of polypropylene homopolymer for the period.) Shipments increased from each of the top four exporting regions: Western Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and North America. Exports from the Middle East had the highest percentage increase.
Mixed Trends for Polyethylene Exports from Qatar
HDPE exports from Qatar were up 25% through August 2014 versus the prior year; shipments of combined L/LLDPE were off 13%. Continue reading
Qatar’s Exports of EDC Double; VCM Slows
Qatar exported over 244,000 tons of EDC through August 2014, up 98% from the prior year. Exports of VCM dropped 21%, to 192,000 tons. Qatar also reported 41,000 tons of exports of uncompounded PVC polymer. Continue reading
Morocco’s Top Polymer Imports
Morocco imports significant volumes of polyethylene, polypropylene, propylene copolymers, polystyrene, PVC and PET. Continue reading