The United States reported exports of 7.45 million tons of ethylene polymers through August, 2022, up 20% from the same period in 2021. Exports increased to every region but there were minor changes in each region’s percent of total.

US exports of every polymer grade increased except EVA. Exports of Identified LDPE (conventional high pressure low density polymer) showed the highest percent gain, up 35%, to 1.1 million tons. Exports of Identified LLDPE and HDPE were each up 22%, to 0.8 million tons and 2.4 million tons, respectively. Exports of ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers rose 17%, to 2.8 million tons. EVA exports fell 19%, to 93,000 tons.

The percent of total shipped to each region through August 2022, shown below, was almost the same as in August 2021 YTD, varying by 1-2 percentage points. Shipments to Asia-Pacific fell from 24% to 22% of the 2022 total; exports to Canada dropped from 11% to 10%. Shipments to Latin America were 42% of total, up from 41%. Percentages to Western and Eastern Europe and Africa were unchanged.

From International Trader Publications’ United States Polymer Trade Report, a monthly analysis of US trade in all commodity polymers, recyclable polymers and key fabricated plastic products.