Recyclable polymers constitute an important pillar of the circular economy, helping transform waste into valuable resources. This post delves into the trade trends of the four key recyclable polymer types distinguishable by HS code – Recyclable Polyethylene, Recyclable Styrenics, Recyclable PVC, and Other Recyclable Polymers – from 2020 to 2024. ‘Recyclable’ signifies post-consumer, post-industrial waste (not yet recycled).

It should be noted that the amount of plastic waste that is traded each year is a small fraction (estimated at 9%) of the amount of waste generated each year, the rest of which ends up in landfills, is incinerated, or finds its way back into the environment.

Global trade in recyclable polymers increased modestly from 2020 to 2024, with total volumes reaching 7.6 million metric tons by the end of the period (up 9%, from 7.0 million tons in 2020).

The category “Other Recyclable Polymers” consistently accounted for the largest share (53% in 2024, 4.1 million tons). This category includes recyclable PET, polypropylene, polycarbonates, PMMA, and all other recyclable polymers excluding PE, styrenics, and PVC, which are identified separately.  

Recyclable polyethylene accounted for another 40% of the volume in 2024. Global trade in rPE has increased 7% since 2020, from 2.8 to 3.0 million tons.

Trade in recyclable polystyrene and PVC remain small in comparison, with recyclable styrenics showing some growth (up 33% since 2020, to 288K tons) and recyclable PVC declining (-19%, to 256K tons).

Considering all types of recyclable polymers, the top five importers in 2024 were Vietnam, Turkey, Netherlands, Germany, and the US.

Vietnam saw a steady and strong rise, surpassing all other countries’ imports by 2024, likely as a result of China’s plastic waste import ban in 2018 and Vietnam’s growth as a major manufacturing hub.

The Netherlands maintained the highest import volumes from 2021 through 2023 but experienced a notable drop in 2024, likely due to stricter regulations (e.g., EU Waste Shipment Regulations (WSR) rolling out through 2027) and increased domestic collection and recycling efforts.

Turkey has mostly shown a gradual decline in imports since 2020, possibly due to public reaction against plastic waste being redirected from China to Turkey, increased focus on domestic recycling, and a short-lived 2021 ban on mixed plastic waste that was replaced with licensing requirements.

The largest overall exporters of recyclable polymers in 2024 included Germany, the US, the UK, the Netherlands, and France.

Germany remained the top exporter throughout the period, consistently ahead of other nations by a wide margin, given its highly developed waste collection and sorting, and high volume of plastic waste generated, among other factors. However, its exports have steadily declined to under 950,000 tons in 2024, likely given cost-pressures, EU regulatory burdens including the Basel convention and WSR, and declining industrial activity.

The US showed notable volatility before largely stabilizing around 660K tons exports across 2023-2024, when it became a net exporter of plastic waste for the first time. New tariffs may put a dent in future US exports of plastic waste, especially to top partners Canada and Mexico.

Exports from the UK have grown gradually over the past years, given limited domestic recycling capacity and reliance on exports to meet recycling targets, and more flexibility than its EU peers in terms of regulations – though there is some momentum to also reduce exports of plastic waste.

From International Trader Publications’ World Trade Analyses, continuously updated analyses of trade based on statistics from all reporting countries.