Saudi Arabia exported 4.4 million tons of polypropylene (all grades, partly estimated) in 2024, down 14%. UAE shipped 1.7 million tons, down 7%. (UAE does not publish statistics; data is visible from trading partners). Shipments to Asia-Pacific were the most impacted.
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Saudi Arabia and UAE Expand Polyethylene Exports in 2024 Despite Trade Challenges
North America’s PE, PP, PS and PVC Trade in 2024: Trends, Challenges, and Regional Shifts
North America’s trade in commodity polymers in 2024 was characterized by large volume exports of polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC, most of which were up from the prior year. Imports were relatively small; several polyolefins showing large percentage gains.
Continue readingAfrica’s PE, PP, PS and PVC Trade in 2024: Key Trends, Challenges, and Regional Shifts
Africa’s trade in commodity polymers in 2024 was characterized by relatively small volume exports of HDPE, polypropylene, and PVC. Imports of each of these polymers were substantial and posted gains versus the prior year.
Continue readingWestern Europe’s PE, PP, PS and PVC Trade in 2024: Key Trends, Challenges, and Regional Shifts
Weak demand, competition in export markets and imports from other regions were reflected in Western Europe’s trade in polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and PVC in 2024.
Continue readingChina’s Trade in Commodity Polymers Has Shifted by 20 Million Tons from 2020 to 2024 – Imports Have Dropped by 10 million tons, Exports Have Risen by 10 Million Tons
The changes in China’s trade in polyethylene, polypropylene, styrenic polymers, PVC and PET have profoundly impacted trade flows for both exporting and importing countries.
Continue readingTrends in Recyclable Polypropylene Trade, and Proposed Changes to the Harmonized System (HS)
The volume of recyclable polypropylene that can be identified as traded globally was 862,000 tons in 2023, up 25% from 2022. Western Europe accounted for more than half of the total, based on available statistics.
Global trade volume is currently understated because statistics specifically for recyclable PP are available only for 52 countries. Other countries combine recyclable PP with recyclable PET and other polymers, excluding recyclable PE, styrenics and PVC, that are identified separately. If interested, this can potentially be changed by an appeal to the World Customs Organization.
Continue readingAdvanced Look at Western Europe’s HDPE Polymer Imports
Although Eurostat statistics for polymers and other products are published three months after the trade month, an earlier view of import demand and the impact of shipping disruptions in the Red Sea can be obtained from trading partner export statistics.
Continue readingChina’s Exports of All the Commodity Polymers Set New Records in March 2024
The simultaneous jump to new highs in March of China’s exports of polyethylene, polypropylene, styrenic polymers, PVC and PET was unprecedented. A rebound in polymer shipments after the holiday in February was expected and evident historically but new polymer capacity was also indicated, particularly in polypropylene.
Continue readingTrends in Polyolefin Polymer Trade in Western Europe in 2023
Polyolefin polymer demand in Western Europe in 2023 is measurable in part from the region’s intra-regional trade, its imports from other regions, and its exports to other regions. Lower intra-regional trade and lower imports indicate a drop in demand from one year to the next. These were evident in 2023 versus 2022 for LDPE, linear PE, HDPE, and PP homopolymer. Lower polymer demand in a region is also usually associated with an increase in a region’s exports, if conditions make this possible. Western Europe’s exports of HDPE did increase in 2023, but shipments of other polymers were constrained by low demand in other regions and surging exports from North America.
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