The US exported 557,000 tons of recyclable polymers in 2021, one-third the volume of what was shipped in 2017. In addition to a sharp decline in volume over that period, the distribution of US exports changed. Latin America and Canada now account for a greater share of the total, although Asia-Pacific remains the largest volume destination. Further declines in US exports to Asia-Pacific are likely given the decision by CMA CGM, the US’s largest shipper of these materials, to end shipments as of June 1, 2022.
Continue readingTag Archives: US Polymer Trade Report
US Exports of PVC Were Down 17% Through July; Further Declines Expected
The shutdown of several PVC facilities by Shintech, Westlake and Formosa Plastics due to Hurricane Ida will impact US exports, which were already down substantially from last year as of July.
Continue readingUS Imports of Several Commodity Polymers Set New Records in July 2021
Imports of propylene polymers, styrenic polymers, PVC and PET all hit new highs in July on strong demand and tight supplies. Imports of ethylene polymers also surged. Hurricane Ida’s recent impact on US production capability is expected to further aggravate domestic supplies, especially for PVC and styrenics, increasing imports and reducing exports.
Continue readingUS Imports of Propylene Polymers Reached a New High in June 2021. Exports Continued Low. Prices Soared.
The US imported 373,000 tons of PP homopolymer, copolymer and PIB through June 2021, up 70% from the same period in 2020. Exports over the period were 923,000 tons, down 8%.
Continue readingTrends 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 readingUS Imports of Bottle-Grade PET Soar
Imports in January 2021 were double what they were in the prior January. Volume trended higher for most of 2020, reaching several new record highs.
Continue readingTight Supplies of PVC Lead to Record Prices on US Exports
The average price on US exports of PVC has doubled between June 2020 and January 2021 and further increases are expected in the wake of weather-related outages in February.
Continue readingThe United States is Back. New Record High on PE Exports in May 2020, Much Higher Shipments to China a Key Factor.
US exports of ethylene polymers rose to 1.0 million tons in May, 2020, an all-time high, after slowing to 885,000 tons in April. The average price across the major polymer groups fell to $921/ton.
Continue readingUS Exports of Ethylene Polymers Reach a New High in March 2020
The impact of the pandemic was not yet evident in US exports of ethylene polymers in the first quarter, which climbed each month to an all-time monthly high of 975,000 tons in March.
Continue readingUS Ethylene Polymer Exports, R-PE Trade, and Imports of PE Sacks and Bags as of February 2020
US exports of ethylene polymers continued strong through February 2020, volume near record levels. Shipments of recyclable polymer continued falling. Imports of PE sacks and bags from China dropped.
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