Western Europe’s Polyethylene Import Sources Shift

Reduced imports of LLDPE and HDPE from the Middle East and higher volumes of these polymers, and also LDPE from Asia-Pacific were features of Western Europe’s trade May 2013 year to date.

Through May, Western Europe’s imports of LLDPE and HDPE from the Middle East were projected down 27% and 13%, respectively. Imports of LDPE increased 40%. Smaller volume imports from Asia-Pacific, however, rose 14% for LDPE, 28% for HDPE and 124% for LLDPE.