The US exported a total of 1.7 million tons of recycle polymers in 2017. Imports into the US of recycle polymers were 429,000 tons, up 2%.

R-polyethylene exports were 635,000 tons, down 11%; R-PET, 223,000 tons, down 12%; R-PVC, 160,000 tons, down 32%; and other polymers, mainly polypropylene, accounting for the remainder.

Shipments to Asia-Pacific were over 85% of the total. The largest volumes by far were shipped to China/Hong Kong, although also of note were rising shipments to India, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Imports into the US were mainly from Canada and Mexico/other Latin America.

From International Trader Publications’ United States Polymer Trade Report – an on line analysis of US imports and exports of virgin commodity polymers, recycle polymers and fabricated plastic products.