ITP's Recent Trends discuss important trends in international polymer and petrochemical trade. Graphs and figures are from ITP's Monthly Newsletters and Annual Reviews.

February 7, 2012
Preliminary overview of styrenics trade in 2011: lower global trade volume in ABS, SAN, non-expandable polystyrene and styrene; moderately higher expandable polystyrene volume; much higher Asia-Pacific exports of polystyrene and SAN to Western Europe and Eastern Europe. (PDF)

January 26, 2012
China imported 18.1 million tons of virgin commodity polymers in 2011, down 2%; exported 2.7 million tons of virgin commodity polymers, up 38%; imported 8.4 million tons of scrap commodity polymers, up 5%; and, exported 6.2 million tons of specific fabricated polymer products, up 8%. (PDF)

January 15, 2012
In 2011, China will import approximately 18 million tons of virgin commodity polymers, plus 8 million tons of scrap and waste polymer. China will export 3 million tons of virgin commodity polymers and more than 3.5 million tons of specific fabricated plastics products identified by polymer, plus 2.5 million tons of fabricated product groups of mixed polymers. These important trade flows are covered in a new report.(PDF)

December 22, 2011
As expected, China imported much higher volumes in November of many polymers and chemicals versus the prior month. Imports of MEG, HDPE and Polypropylene were particularly heavy.(PDF)

November 21, 2011
China's national holiday early in October was evident in both lower imports and exports of nearly all the products followed by ITP. Volume declines were generally typical for this period. Imports of a few basic chemicals increased: EDC, ethylene, methanol and propylene.(PDF)

November 18, 2011
Highlights of Russia's exports through September: much lower exports of HDPE, LDPE and polypropylene but higher imports of each of these polymers, and also of PET, polystyrene and PVC; increased exports of methanol; lower shipments of styrene.(PDF)

November 17, 2011
Highlights of US exports through September: most polyolefins exports, excluding LLDPE, down slightly or unchanged; PVC exports up 10%; increased shipments also of polyacetals, polycarbonates, ethylene, EDC, VCM and MEG; lower exports of propylene, PET and styrene.(PDF)

October 24, 2011
Imports into China of most products eased in September after advancing strongly in August, but declines were generally modest. Exceptions, with gains, were MEG -setting a new record, DEG, polystyrene and PVC. (PDF)

September 19, 2011
China's imports of most polymers showed moderate declines through July, ranging from down 2% to down 11%. Imports of EVA and propylene copolymers increased. Imports of methanol and ethylene were up sharply. (PDF)

July 29, 2011
Japan's exports of numerous polymers and chemicals picked up in June after two months of declines. Higher imports of many products also were evident, excluding benzene, MEG and PVC, with sharp declines. (PDF)

July 25, 2011
China's PE imports continue slow through June 2011; PP and PVC imports pick up slightly; polyacetals imports hit new highs; imports of many basic organic chemicals rise, some for second month in a row; YTD import volumes generally down moderately versus the first half of 2010. (PDF)

June 14, 2011
Japan's exports of many products plummet in April; imports increase. (PDF)

May 27, 2011
China's imports of numerous products fall sharply in April. Exports of PVC and PET surge. Import totals YTD for many products close to last year's levels. (PDF)

May 25, 2011
Highlights of United States polymer exports in March: high shipments of polyethylene, polypropylene, propylene copolymers and PVC during the month. First quarter export totals varied widely from last year. (PDF)

May 24, 2011
Highlights of South Korea's polymer exports in March: high shipments of ABS, polystyrene and polypropylene. (PDF)

May 18, 2011
Japan's exports of PVC in March were a low for the last 15 months. Relatively high volumes of polypropylene, polycarbonates and ethylene copolymers were shipped during the month; export volumes of most other products were at typical levels. Trends YTD varied by product. (PDF)

May 2, 2011
China's imports of polycarbonates, EDC and methanol hit 15 month highs in March 2011. Imports of other polymers and chemicals also rebounded after the February holiday. First quarter YTD trends were mixed, most products monitored by ITP either showing gains or small declines. (PDF)

April 8, 2011
Polystyrene, ABS and SAN World Trade in 2010. (PDF)

April 1, 2011
PET World Trade in 2010. (PDF)

March 29, 2011
PVC and EDC/VCM World Trade in 2010. (PDF)

March 25, 2011
Polypropylene and Propylene Copolymers World Trade in 2010. (PDF)

March 21, 2011
Polyethylene World Trade in 2010. (PDF)

March 9, 2011
Highlights of U.S. trade in 2010: mixed trends for commodity polymer exports, with PVC surging to new highs but declines for polyolefins; big gains on exports of engineering polymers; much higher imports of MEG; moderately higher imports of benzene and methanol. (PDF)

March 7, 2011
Highlights of Thailand's trade in 2010: much higher exports of L/LLDPE, polypropylene, propylene copolymers, EVA and benzene, gains ranging from 27%-116%. Glycol imports from Saudi Arabia rose sharply; methanol imports from Indonesia and Iran also surged. (PDF)

March 1, 2011
Highlights of South Korea's trade in 2010: higher exports of polyacetals and polycarbonates; little change in exports of ABS, SAN and polyesters; mixed trends in commodity polymer exports; much lower exports of ethylene and propylene; moderately higher imports of methanol(PDF)

February 28, 2011
Highlights of Japan's trade in 2010: higher exports of ABS, SAN, polycarbonates, and, especially, polyacetals; lower exports of most commodity polymers; heavy shipments of benzene and styrene to South Korea and Taiwan; increased methanol imports from local sources. (PDF)

January 27, 2011
China ends 2010 with a surge in imports of most major polymers and organic chemicals. Imports of PVC, EVA, polypropylene, propylene copolymers, ethylene and VCM hit their highest levels for the year in December. Yearend totals showed mixed trends versus the prior year.(PDF)

January 07, 2011
Ethylene glycol global trade volume was up 18% through September. A major factor in the increase was much higher shipments from the Middle East to Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and North America. Saudi Arabia shipped record volumes for most of 2010 YTD. (PDF)

January 05, 2011
PET global trade volume was up 7% through September. Exports increased from Asia-Pacific to Eastern Europe and Africa; from Eastern Europe to Western Europe; and, from North America to Latin America. China's bottle grade exports were up 19%, polymer shipped worldwide. (PDF)

December 15, 2010
Expandable polystyrene global trade has risen strongly since March, volume up 10% YTD. Increased Asia-Pacific exports to Eastern Europe and the Middle East and higher intra-regional trade within Western Europe and Asia-Pacific were key factors. (PDF)

December 14, 2010
PVC global trade volume was up 8% through September. Although shipments to Asia-Pacific from both North America and Western Europe were down, exports to other markets more than compensated. Western Europe exported higher volumes to Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East; North America increased PVC exports to Eastern Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. (PDF)

December 13, 2010
Global trade in styrene was up 7% September YTD. Much higher imports into Asia-Pacific from the Middle East were a factor in the increased global volume. Also important: increased imports into Latin America from North America; heavy imports into Eastern Europe from both Western Europe and the Middle East. (PDF)

November 30, 2010
Middle East exports of polypropylene to Asia-Pacific have risen 76%, impacting exports from other regions and also Asia-Pacific intra-regional trade. Increased volumes of propylene copolymers are also being exported from the Middle East to Asia-Pacific. Middle East exports of polypropylene to Western and Eastern Europe have nearly doubled. (PDF)

November 11, 2010
Imports of LLDPE and HDPE into China continued heavy in September; LDPE imports were roughly steady. Iran supplied sharply higher volumes of LDPE and HDPE. (PDF)

November 10, 2010
Polyethylene trade patterns have shifted. Middle East has expanded shipments to Asia-Pacific and Europe. North America's exports to Asia-Pacific have fallen. Western Europe has increased shipments to Eastern Europe while continuing exports to Asia-Pacific. (PDF)

October 18, 2010
Propylene global trade volume was up 16% YTD through July, to 3.8 million tons. Ethylene trade was unchanged at 3.2 million tons. Expanded trade in both monomers was a prominent trend within Western Europe. Net imports into Asia-Pacific were down sharply. Middle East exports of ethylene fell 49%; exports of propylene were up 32%. (PDF)

October 09, 2010
Imports into China of most of the polymers and chemicals ITP follows picked up in August. Imports of ABS, methanol and PS-N were the highest they've been all year. Imports of LLDPE, HDPE and PVC were the highest since March. (PDF)

September 6, 2010
Demand in Western Europe for ABS, polycarbonates, PET, SAN and EVA was up 17%-21% in the first half of 2010. Demand for polyacetals jumped 81%. LDPE, HDPE, polypropylene and propylene copolymers demand increased 4%-12%. (PDF)

August 25, 2010
China's imports of several commodity and engineering polymers pick up in July; many continue at relatively high levels versus earlier periods. (PDF)

August 11, 2010
Middle East increases exports of polypropylene and propylene copolymers to Europe and Asia-Pacific. (PDF)

August 4, 2010
Iran's exports of HDPE, LDPE, methanol and PET post gains of 45%-388% through April 2010. (PDF)

July 27, 2010
China's imports of polyacetals and polycarbonates climb sharply throughout June. Imports of polyethylene, polypropylene, propylene copolymers and EVA ease but remain at historically high levels. (PDF)

July 16, 2010
Imports into Eastern Europe up substantially in first quarter 2010 for ABS, polyacetals, polycarbonates, PET, pp and pvc. Imports from the Middle East of HDPE and polypropylene increase. (PDF)

July 1, 2010
Middle East, Western Europe and North America score big gains on YTD polyethylene exports to China, but Asia-Pacific sources decline. (PDF)

June 30, 2010
Polyacetals and polycarbonates imports into China continue climbing in May but volumes of most other products fall slightly from April. Exceptions, with big declines: imports of benzene, MEG, DEG, styrene. (PDF)

May 28, 2010
China's imports of engineering polymers continue strong in April. Styrene imports set a new record. Polyethylene imports remain high, although off from March levels. (PDF)

May 19, 2010
United States exports of most commodity and engineering polymers post strong gains in first quarter 2010. (PDF)

May 18, 2010
ABS, SAN, polyacetals and polycarbonates global trade volume up 16%-132% through February 2010. (PDF)

April 22, 2010
China's back! Polymer and chemical imports rebound in March. LLDPE, LDPE and glycol imports set new all-time record highs. (PDF)

April 21, 2010
Unprecedented changes evident in global trade patterns in 2009 - surging imports into Asia-Pacific; major increases in exports to the region from the Middle East, Western Europe, North America and other regions; higher Middle East shipments also to Europe and North America. (PDF)

March 27, 2010
Despite lower imports in both January and February 2010, year to date, China's imports were substantially higher than in 2009 for many products. A rebound in imports is likely in March. (PDF)

March 1, 2010
Although China's trade slowed in January 2010 for most products, polyethylene imports actually increased. South Korea's trade generally was down from December. (PDF)

February 25, 2010
United States exports in 2009 exceed 2008 for several polymers and chemicals. PVC exports set new records through yearend. (PDF)

February 22, 2010
Japan and South Korea exported record volumes of numerous polymers and chemicals during 2009 as the result of extremely heavy demand in China, and also India and Vietnam. (PDF)

January 25, 2010
Spectacular end to a stunning year for imports into China, with new record highs in December, 2009, on imports of EVA, ABS, polyacetals, SAN, MEG and styrene and increased volumes of every other commodity polymer, engineering polymer and petrochemical followed by ITP. (PDF)

January 15, 2010
US exports of most commodity polymers were up substantially through November 2009, with the highest gains on shipments of PVC and HDPE. US imports of commodity polymers, however, most of which come from Canada, generally showed sizeable declines. (PDF)

December 30, 2009
Middle East Exports of Ethylene to Western Europe Fall 84% YTD; Shipments to Asia-Pacific Increase 9%. Middle East Exports of Propylene to Asia-Pacific Rise 46%. Asia-Pacific Also Imports More Propylene from North America, Latin America and Western Europe; Intra-regional Propylene Trade Expands 25%. (PDF)

December 18, 2009
Middle East Exports of Ethylene to Western Europe Fall 84% YTD; Shipments to Asia-Pacific Increase 9%. Middle East Exports of Propylene to Asia-Pacific Rise 46%. Asia-Pacific Also Imports More Propylene from North America, Latin America and Western Europe; Intra-regional Propylene Trade Expands 25%. (PDF)

December 4, 2009
North America's Exports in 2009 of Polyethylene, Polypropylene and PVC Likely to Exceed 2008 Levels. (PDF)

November 18, 2009
Western Europe's Polymer and Petrochemical Exports to Asia-Pacific Surge. Rising Exports to Eastern Europe also Evident. (PDF)

November 3, 2009
Unprecedented Shipments of Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Glycol, Methanol and Styrene Shipped from the Middle East to Asia-Pacific. Midle East Exports to Western Europe of Several Products Also Increase. (PDF)

October 3, 2009
The First Half of 2009 was a Period of Major Change in Global Trade Flows in Polymers and Petrochemicals. Trade volume for Several Products was Actually Higher Than Last Year. (PDF)