The conflict that began in Iran on February 28, 2026 has spread across the region, curtailing production and delaying or rerouting shipments of polypropylene through the Strait of Hormuz. Middle East exports of polypropylene in 2025 (7.0 million tons) were 42% of total global exports of 16.7 million tons.
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Polyethylene Exports from the Middle East – Impact of Supply Disruption
Exports from Iran have ended and global trade flows are being impacted by the conflict that began February 28, 2026, spreading to other suppliers in the region, and delaying or rerouting shipments of polyethylene through the Strait of Hormuz. Middle East exports of polyethylene in 2025 (18.7 million tons) represented 43% of total global exports of 43.8 million tons.
Continue readingGlobal Trade in PE Film/Sheet and PE Bags/Sacks Continued to Rise in 2025 Despite Bans on Single-Use Products
Global trade in PE film/sheet rose 8% in 2025 to 7.4 million tons; trade in PE bags/sacks grew by 6% to 5 million tons. This followed gains of about 6% per product in 2024, compared to 2023.
Continue readingUnited States Imports of PET Sank in November 2025 As Reciprocal Tariffs Hit Supplies From Vietnam, Thailand, and Others
US imports slowed from 132,000 tons in September to 117,000 tons in October, then plunged to 77,000 tons in November.
Continue readingChina Increasingly Dominates PET Trade – China’s Exports Accounted for 45% of the Total Volume of PET Traded Globally in 2025, Up From 23% in 2020
Massive capacity expansion in China has led to growing exports to Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.
Continue readingProjected Trends in Global Trade Volume in 2025 Versus 2024: Bisphenol A, -12%; Polycarbonate Polymer, up 2%; Polycarbonate Film/Sheet, up 10%
New capacity, government regulations, and demand in diverse industries impacted global trade in the BPA to PC film/sheet product train.
Continue readingIndonesia’s New Facility Will Reduce Dependence on Imports of Polyethylene and Polypropylene From Asia-Pacific Sources
On November 6, 2025, Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto inaugurated a naphtha cracker that will produce 1 million tons of ethylene and 520,000 tons of propylene. These will reduce Indonesia’s imports of monomers, polymers, and other petrochemicals.
Continue readingITP Projects General Purpose Polystyrene Global Trade of 3.3 Million Tons in 2025, up 2%; Expandable Polystyrene Global Trade is Projected at 2.6 million tons, up 5%
Higher exports of both polymer grades are projected from Western Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Continue readingUAE Polyethylene and Polypropylene Exports Are Projected to Decline in 2025, with Losses in Asia-Pacific Only Partly Offset by Gains in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America; Historic Data Shows Major Re-Exports
UAE exports of polyethylene (all grades) are projected at 3.8 million tons yearend 2025, down 1%; polypropylene, 1.6 million tons, down 6% (based on import statistics from all available publishing countries, as the UAE does not publish timely statistics). The latest export data for UAE, for 2023 (from UN Comtrade), shows much lower exports out of UAE than is reported by trading partners as imports from UAE as the country of origin.
Continue readingIndia to Add New PVC Capacity to Reduce Reliance on Imports
Adani Group has announced plans to build a 1 million ton per year PVC plant in Mundra, Gujarat, scheduled on stream in 2028, to meet India’s growing demand for the polymer for agricultural, construction and industrial uses.
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