Saudi Arabia is China’s top supplier of HDPE, LLDPE, MEG, DEG and styrene and also ships large volumes of polypropylene, liquefied butane gas and liquefied propane gas, among others. The recent attack on Saudi oil facilities will reduce exports of polymers and chemicals, at the same time as imports from the US are curtailed by punitive duties.
Continue readingTag Archives: US
US Exports of Recycle Polymers Down 46% as of July 2019; Further Declines Likely From India’s Ban on Recycle Polymer Imports
The US shipped 406,000 tons of recycle polymers through July, 2019, down 46% from the same period in the prior year. China’s total ban on imports of recycle polymers as of 2018 was a key factor in the decline. Further declines in US exports are expected as India has announced it will also ban all recycle polymer imports.
Continue readingChina’s PE Imports Grow; Supplies from the US to Shrink Further
China imported 11 million tons of ethylene polymers through July, 2019, up 19% from the same period in the prior year. The US supplied 3.6% (397,000 tons) of the total, down from 5.2% (839,000 tons) at the end of 2018.
Continue readingUS Exports of MEG Head to Europe, Korea, Brazil
The United States shipped record amounts of MEG from May through July, 2019. Exports to several European markets, and also to Korea and Brazil, were up sharply.
Continue readingChina’s P-Xylene Imports Fall Sharply Following Manufacturing Push
Imports for June 2019 fell to their lowest levels in two years
Continue readingUS LNG Exports Rise Steadily, and Shift to Western Europe
The United States exported 13.5 million tons of LNG through May, 2019, up 50% from the same period in 2018.
Continue readingUS Exports of Ethylene Glycol Trending Higher
The United States exported 255,000 tons of monoethylene glycol through April 2019, up 25% from the same period in the prior year. Lower volumes to top destination, Mexico, and a sharp drop in shipments to China, were more than offset by gains to Europe, Brazil and elsewhere.
Continue readingStrong Start to 2019 for US Polyethylene Exports
US exported 709,000 tons of ethylene polymers in January, 2019, a new monthly record. This was up 44% from the prior January. The average price fell to $1225/ton.
Continue readingUS Exports of HDPE Hit New High
US exports of HDPE have trended higher through most of 2018, with volume of 2.1 million tons through October up 21% from the same period in 2017. A record 259,000 tons were shipped in the month of October.
Shipments increased to every region except the Middle East, with the largest percentage gains on exports to Western Europe and Asia Pacific.
Continue readingChina’s LNG Imports Soar to a New Record in November, as Prices Rise
China imported a record 6 million tons of LNG during November 2018, raising the year to date import volume to 47.6 million tons, an increase of 43% from the same period in 2017.