Global trade in recycle polyethylene was down 14% through June 2018, the loss of China as an import market partly offset by higher imports into other Asia-Pacific markets and also Turkey.
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Western Europe Exported 2.4 Times as Much Recycle PE in 2017 as Did North America
Although virgin polyethylene production capacity is similar in both regions, Western Europe exported 1.4 million tons of recycle polyethylene in 2017, compared with 0.6 million tons exported by from North America.
Shipments in 2017 from both regions were mainly to Asia-Pacific, although 220,000 tons of its total was shipped by Western Europe to Eastern Europe. Exports from both Western Europe and North America declined versus 2016, by 15% and 9%, respectively.
As of January 2018, China’s imports of R-PE have virtually disappeared. Although R-PE imports into Vietnam, Malaysia, Turkey and other countries have been rising, their imports to date are much smaller than China’s. Because of the previous size of Western Europe’s R-PE exports, that region will likely be impacted by the loss of the Chinese market to a greater degree than will North America.
From International Trader Publications’ Recycle Polyethylene World Trade Review – a continuously updated on line analysis of trade trends between countries and regions, based on latest import/export statistics from 46 countries.
US Exports of Recycle Polymers Were Down 14% in 2017; Imports into the US Rose 2%.
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%. Continue reading
LNG Global Trade up 11% Through July
The volume of liquefied natural gas traded globally through July 2017 exceeded 150 million tons, up 11% from last year, based on latest available trade statistics.
Global Butadiene Trade Volume Up 8% Through June 2017
Butadiene trade totaled over 1.3 million tons in the first half of 2017, up 8% from the same period in 2016. Prominent trends included increased imports into Asia-Pacific and expanded trade within the region, a strong increase in exports from Latin America, and lower exports from Western Europe.
China Imports Butanes at Record Levels
After trending downward for most of 2016 and into early 2017 China’s imports of liquefied butane gases soared to a new record high of 557,000 ton in May and continued to rise in June, reaching 587,000 tons. Average prices slipped in both months, to $433/ton in June.
China’s End to Imports of Recycle Polymers Will Have Global Impact
If China cuts off all imports of recycle plastics, as reported in the media as possibly occurring as soon as 2018, the impact on recycling industries in the US, Europe and Asia of the loss of a market for 7.3 million tons of recycle polymer would be huge.
Recent Trends in Recycle Polyethylene Trade
The volume of recycle polyethylene traded globally was up 12% through May, 2017, mainly on higher imports into China, followed by gains in other Asia-Pacific markets.
Nearly 5 million tons of PE Film and Sheet is Traded Globally
Preliminary figures for 2016 indicate a 6% increase in global trade volume in polyethylene film and sheet, to just under 5 million tons.
Nearly 4 Million Tons of Polyethylene Bags/Sacks are Traded Globally
The volume of PE bags and sacks (plus cones) traded globally in 2015 was 3.7 million tons. Trade volume in 2016 is projected to be up about 4%, to just over 3.8 million tons. Western European countries and the United States are major import markets; China is the world’s top exporter, although shipments from other countries are rising. Continue reading