Uncertainty created by the “Liberation Day” policies announced by the US in April contributed to a drop in trade between the US and Canada for the year, and also led to greater efforts by both countries to increase exports abroad.
The renegotiation of the USMCA, which governs trade between the US, Mexico and Canada, is scheduled for later in 2026. Until this is finalized, tariff uncertainty will continue.
Continue readingGlobal 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 vs 2023.
Continue readingTariffs will be lowered or eliminated on a number of chemical, polymer, rubber, and plastic products, enhancing trade flows between the countries.
Continue readingChina 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 readingRegional export flows shifted in 2025, pressured by lower global trade volume, weak demand, and new capacity.
Continue readingThrough August 2025, the most current month available for India, imports of PE film/sheet totaled 282,000 tons, up 52% from the same period the year before. Imports of PP film/sheet were 67,000 tons, up 64%; PET film/sheet, 84,000 tons, up 76%.
Continue readingBrazil’s imports of polyethylene were at record high levels for most of 2024. Trade through September 2025 slowed versus the prior year, but the impact of a recent anti-dumping ruling against polymer imports from the US and Canada is expected to be realized in the fourth quarter.
Continue readingLower imports into China, together with rising exports from China, will impact trade flows out of Western Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
Continue readingIn 2024, China reported imports of liquefied propane gas from the US of 17.3 million tons, up 37% from 2023. Through August of 2025, China’s imports from US were down 28%, to 8.2 million tons, the shortfall filled by Middle East and other sources.
Continue readingChina exports numerous fabricated plastic products that can be identified by specific polymer, and many other products that involve mixed polymers. Exports of most of these to the US were down June 2025 YTD.
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