Ethylene global trade in 2017 was 7.9 million tons up 10% from 2016.

Asia-Pacific was a major factor in global ethylene trade volume and growth. The region imported 1.1 million tons from other regions in 2017, up 4%, roughly 400,000 tons sourced from the Middle East, up 18% and another 400,000 tons from Western Europe, up 6%. Imports from North America of just over 150,000 tons were off slightly.

In addition, trade within the Asia-Pacific region of 2.8 million tons was up 19%. China was a driving force, importing 2.2 million tons from all sources, up 30%. China’s imports set a new monthly record in November of 204,000 tons, eased slightly in December (and jumped to a new high in January 2018 of 228,000 tons).

Taiwan’s imports of 456,000 tons were also up strongly in 2017, by 51%.

In Western Europe, intra-regional trade expanded 13% for the year, to 3.6 million tons. Imports from other regions were down 30%, to 200,000 tons.

From International Trader Publications’ Ethylene World Trade Report – a continuously updated on line analysis of trade trends between countries and regions, based on latest import/export statistics from 49 key countries.