HOUSTON: US November polypropylene (PP) exports edged up about 3% over the same month in 2014 on more shipments to Mexico, according to government data released this week. But imports, while much smaller, continued to rise on increased shipments from South America and Israel, according to data from the US International Trade Commission (ITC).
The import gain, while only a small fraction of total production, stems from tight supply in the US for most of this year. PP sources say imports are increasing because US values are so much higher than in Asia, where prices are 20-25 cents/lb lower.
PP imports jumped by 41% in the first 11 months of 2015. Exports remained virtually flat, up about 1% over the same period in 2014, according to the ITC data. Major North American PP producers include LyondellBasell, ExxonMobil, INEOS, Total, Formosa, Braskem Americas, Pinnacle Polymers, Phillips 66 and Flint Hills Resources.
