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 readingTag Archives: US
China’s PVC Exports Surge to a New Record
China’s exports of uncompounded PVC in March 2021 hit a monthly record of 235,000 tons, with volume for the first quarter, 520,000 tons, up 233% from the same period in 2020.
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 readingChina’s Imports of Ethylene Polymers Were up 11% in 2020, to 21.3 M Tons, Although Volume Slowed in the Fourth Quarter
Imports of HDPE were 9.1 million tons in 2020, up 14% from the prior year; linear polymer as EAOC, 6.7 million tons, up 17%; LDPE, 3.4 million tons, down 1%; and EVA, 1.0 million tons, down 3%. Much higher volumes from North America and Eastern Europe and little growth in supplies from the Middle East were striking trends.
Continue readingRecord Imports into China of LLDPE and HDPE, and, Changes in Suppliers
As it did in 2009 during the financial crisis, China buttressed the global petrochemical industry with record imports of LLDPE and HDPE during the 2020 pandemic. Volume was heavy from May through October 2020. Much higher imports from North America (US), Eastern Europe (Russia) and other Asia-Pacific, and a drop in imports of LLDPE from the Middle East, were prominent supply changes.
Continue readingSharp Rise in Polycarbonate Film and Sheet Global Trade Projected for 2020, up 22%
Many countries reported record high imports of PC film and sheet from the second quarter of the year, on strong demand for personal protection equipment.
Continue readingProminent Trends in Western Europe’s Polyethylene Trade Through April 2020 Point to Slower Demand
A slowdown in intra-regional trade and generally lower imports from other regions, with one key exception, were prominent trends in Western Europe’s PE trade, based on the most current data available.
Continue readingUS Shipments of LNG in April 2020 Were Off 14% from March. China Topped the List of Export Destinations.
The US exported 4.4 million tons of liquefied natural gas in April, 2020, still a very high volume but down from 5.1 million tons in March.
Continue readingMajor Decline in US Exports of PVC in April 2020, as Covid -19 Impacts Demand
Used heavily in construction, which was severely curtailed by the pandemic, PVC exports from the US fell by nearly 90,000 tons from March to April.
Continue readingUS Exports of Some, But Not All, Ethylene Polymers Slow in April 2020
After trending higher since December and reaching record levels in March, the total volume of US exports across all the ethylene polymers was down in April. Shipments for the month were down 10% from March, but the magnitude of the decline varied greatly by specific polymer and also by region.
Continue reading