Lower imports into China, together with rising exports from China, will impact trade flows out of Western Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
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Sharp Drop in China’s Imports of Liquefied Propane Gas from US
In 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’s Exports of Fabricated Plastic Products to US Reduced by Tariffs
China 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.
Continue readingTurkey Imports Record Volumes of Polyethylene in April and May, Partly Because of a US Pivot from China
New capacity, weak demand and tariff uncertainties resulted in a 6% drop, to 1.1 million tons, in China’s imports of polyethylene from the US. Some US polymer has been directed to Turkey.
Continue readingUS Polyethylene Exports in May 2025 Continued Depressed on Lower China Trade
Chinese retaliatory tariffs on imports of polyethylene from the US resulted in a 24% drop in US shipments to China for the January – May 2025 period, to 822,000 tons. That decline was somewhat offset by higher volumes to other markets, resulting in a 4% increase in the US total, to 6.5 million tons YTD.
Continue readingUS Ethane Exports to China Expected to Rebound in July
The US imposed restrictions on ethane exports to China in late May and early June. Restrictions have since eased and exports are expected to rise.
Continue readingNew US Sanctions on Russian Petrochemical Exports, if Passed, Would: Impact Trade in Polyolefins, Liquefied Gases, Rubber and Other Products; Affect Many Importing Countries; and Cripple Russia’s Economy
The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, introduced in both the US Senate and the House of Representatives in April 2025, is currently in committee. Its enactment is far from certain and depends on negotiations toward peace between Russia and Ukraine. Were it to pass, the impact on Russia would be crippling because of the country’s reliance on exports of energy and related products.
Continue readingLiquefied Propane Gas Global Trade Continues Expanding and Adapting to Shifting Market Dynamics
LPG global trade expanded each year over the 2020 to 2024 period and continued through April 2025. Rising US exports, increasing demand globally for LPG as a petrochemical feedstock and a cleaner fuel, and the ban on EU imports from Russia were key market drivers.
Continue readingThe US Exports Substantially More Ethane than Polyethylene to China, But Ethane Shipments May Now be Subject to Licensing Requirements
Ethane is a key feedstock for producing ethylene, which in turn is polymerized to make polyethylene — one of the world’s most widely-traded plastics.
The US exported 1.8 million tons of ethane to China through April 2025, up 23%. As part of the ongoing trade conflict the US Commerce Dept. has indicated that licenses may now be required to continue these exports.
Continue readingUS Polyethylene Exports to China Hit 16-Month Low Amidst Tariff Uncertainty
The impact of the trade war between the US and China and the associated tariff uncertainty was reflected in US exports of polyethylene to China in April 2025, the lowest in 16 months.
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