Polymers
Overview
The polymers market is uniquely impacted by fundamentals like feedstocks, demand, sustainability drivers, trade, and new plant capacity increases.
Global polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) supply and demand dynamics are in transition. Supply is increasing much faster than demand and international trade is shifting due to political and economic events. About 40% of the US polyethylene production is exported, mainly to Asian markets, whereas only about 10% of the polypropylene production is exported, mainly to LATAM markets.
Ethylene prices in Asia and Europe are tied to naphtha whereas ethylene prices in the US are impacted by natural gas and ethane supply. Asia is also self-sufficient on PP whereas they must import 25% of their PE demand.
The impacts of other ethylene and propylene derivatives such as PVC or propylene oxide also require assessment.
Our polymer experts will help you determine what trends to track and how to stay competitive in today’s ever-changing global markets.
Global polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) supply and demand dynamics are in transition. Supply is increasing much faster than demand and international trade is shifting due to political and economic events. About 40% of the US polyethylene production is exported, mainly to Asian markets, whereas only about 10% of the polypropylene production is exported, mainly to LATAM markets.
Ethylene prices in Asia and Europe are tied to naphtha whereas ethylene prices in the US are impacted by natural gas and ethane supply. Asia is also self-sufficient on PP whereas they must import 25% of their PE demand.
The impacts of other ethylene and propylene derivatives such as PVC or propylene oxide also require assessment.
Our polymer experts will help you determine what trends to track and how to stay competitive in today’s ever-changing global markets.
Latest polymers news
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Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
Blog - 24/09/16
Post-pandemic cracker margins: when will Northeast Asia margins turn positive?
WhitePaper - 24/09/16Can Rationalisation Solve the Polyethylene Glut?
WhitePaper - 24/09/13
Key Manufacturing Considerations For World Scale Polyethylene Plants
Large world-scale polyethylene plants are positioned to take advantage of low-cost North American shale-based ethane that is critical to be competitive in the global markets. But these projects come with pros and cons, both financially and logistically, according to Argus polymer expert Terry Glass.
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