Top US chemical exports, imports match gains in March

HOUSTON (ICIS)–The top 10 US chemical exports and imports grew at roughly the same pace in March, according to industry data released this week.

The top 10 exports in March rose 26.8% year on year, while imports increased 26.3%, according to the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM).

Source: AFPM

US polyethylene (PE) once again led both exports and imports, with a 29% gain in exports showing the polymer market’s increased focus on foreign markets because of new plant capacity coming online.

The export gain stemmed from a demand surge prompted by the onset of the PE plant turnaround season in a number of global regions. The largest PE shipment totals went to Mexico, China and Canada.

Canada supplied almost 90% of the US PE imports.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and ethylene dichloride (EDC) also ranked among top exports and showed solid double-digit gains because of capacity expansions in the US that have led suppliers to focus more on international markets.

MTBE ranked among the largest gainers in both the top exports and imports. Produced in four American plants, MTBE is illegal to use as a fuel additive in the US but not in South America and Mexico. Sources said the much higher US import figure reflected a plant outage.

Source: AFPM

Imports of polypropylene soared again in March, as in February, almost tripling from the same month in 2015.

US PP prices rose steadily in 2015 as producers increased margins from lower feedstock prices, but imports have soared this year as processors and converters have brought in cheaper-priced  material from Canada, South Korea, Israel and Saudi Arabia.