US Imported Record Volumes of Fabricated Plastic Products in 2017

Imports of fabricated plastic products that can be specifically identified by polymer were 3.5 million tons in 2017, up 17%. (Much larger volumes of fabricated products are imported as mixtures of polymers.) Imports were at record high levels for most of the year, including through the fourth quarter.

US imports of polyethylene bags and sacks were over 900,000 tons in 2017, up 28%. PVC floor and wall coverings were over 1.2 million tons, up 14%.

Other large volume fabricated product imports were film and sheet made from polyethylene, polypropylene and PET, each with gains for the year.

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.