US PVC exports continue decline in July

Spanish Market: Petrochemicals
03/09/26

US polyvinyl chloride (PVC) exports continued to lag behind year-earlier levels in July, driven by lower shipments to Turkey, Mexico, India and Vietnam.

PVC exports in July dropped by 12pc from a year earlier to 235,376 metric tonnes (t), extending a prolonged contraction in US shipments this year. Exports have been lower on the year in every month this year through July,with total exports in the seven-month period dropping by 9pc to 1.86mn t.

Declining US exports stem from higher trade barriers with key partners. Mexico's Ministry of Economy imposed anti-dumping duties on PVC imports from the US earlier this year, pressuring July deliveries 57pc lower than a year earlier to 12,237t.

Exports to Vietnam in July fell on the year by 46pc to 23,840t after Vietnamese importers shifted purchases to Chinese suppliers earlier in the year. Still, July exports to Vietnam surged five-fold from June after high freight costs from China gave US PVC suppliers a competitive advantage.

US PVC exports to Turkey also remained down in July, dropping by 33pc from a year earlier to 16,000t. Turkey has historically been one of the US' largest trading partners, accounting for 11pc of US PVC exports last year.

Deliveries to India fell to 9,100t in July, down by 25pc from the same month last year. Still, Indian importers have been a key demand source for US exporters during the second half of the year, as elevated China freight costs funnel demand to US suppliers.

By Adriana Alfaro

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

04/09/26

US ethane exports hit new peak in Aug: Kpler

Houston, 4 September (Argus) — US ethane exports reached a new record high of 814,000 b/d in August, data from vessel-tracking service Kpler show. The gains, which follow earlier expansions at Enterprise's and Energy Transfer's export terminals, are up from 620,000 b/d in July. The bulk of exports, or 618,000 b/d, shipped to China, as increases in ethane-derived ethylene capacity and higher naphtha prices in the region bolstered demand. Shipments to India, meanwhile fell versus July to 53,000 b/d, but were steady year-on-year. Ethane loadings bound for Europe fell from 82,000 b/d to 77,000 b/d between July and August, the lowest shipments to that region since December 2022, owing to lower ethylene prices there. Ethane shipments from Enterprise's Morgan's Point terminal near La Porte, Texas, hit a record 332,000 b/d, well over the nameplate capacity at the facility. Ethane loadings out of Enterprise's Neches River terminal rose to 188,000 b/d in August. Energy Transfer's Nederland, Texas, terminal, shipped 217,000 b/d. Energy Transfer's Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, terminal shipped 77,000 b/d of ethane in August. Ethane prices at Mont Belvieu, Texas, in dollar-per-tonne terms, averaged a $190.71/t discount to propane in August, the narrowest spread since February. By Joseph Barbour Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US/Canada August PP contracts decline by 4.5¢/lb

03/09/26

US/Canada August PP contracts decline by 4.5¢/lb

Houston, 3 September (Argus) — August contracts in the US/Canada polypropylene (PP) market declined on average by 4.5¢/lb, including a 1.5¢/lb decline in August polymer-grade propylene (PGP) contracts as well as around 3¢/lb of PP margin compression. For most PP contracts any increase or decrease in PGP contracts is automatically passed along to PP customers. Anything in addition to the feedstock-related increase is considered a margin increase or decrease. PP producers were able to push through between 4-7¢/lb of margin increases to customers in April, due to supply concerns caused by global disruptions related to the US war with Iran. However, buyers have been pressing for at least some of that margin increase to come out since July, arguing that the feared supply constraints used to justify the increases never materialized. Initially, there had been an expectation that US and Canadian producers would significantly increase export volumes to help fill in supply gaps caused by outages in the Middle East. But global prices never rose enough to make PP exports out of North America attractive to producers. With material not moving offshore, supply in the North American market remained balanced-to-long. Spot domestic prices declined over July and August, creating pressure for contract margins to fall in August, buyers said. "I'm buying at back to almost January numbers on the spot side," said one buyer, who said the decline in spot prices helped to support the margin contraction. Buyers said they will push for the remainder of the April margin increase to come out by the year in annual contract negotiations. But producers said they believe some of the margin increase will need to stick in order to support higher operating rates. "We have seen additive costs go up, transportation costs go up," said a US producer. "We need to keep some [margin]." PP demand in North America has been steady. The market is still showing year-to-date growth of around 5.8pc through July, according to data from the American Chemistry Council. Market participants attribute the growth to a combination of fewer resin imports and fewer plastics finished goods coming into the US due to both new tariffs and supply disruptions caused by the US-Iran war. There are some concerns about future demand for certain plastics due to new tariffs announced by the US and Canada. While resin itself is not on the list of tariffed items, certain plastics items are, which could limit some demand at the converter level on both sides of the US/Canada border. So far, the situation has not resulted in any cancelled resin orders, according to one US PP producer. But buyers and producers are keeping a close eye on any new developments. By Michelle Klump Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Canada tariffs target US PE bags, plastic tableware

03/09/26

Canada tariffs target US PE bags, plastic tableware

Houston, 3 September (Argus) — Canada's latest retaliatory tariffs against the US will apply to several plastic products, including polyethylene (PE) bags and plastic tableware, according to the country's Department of Finance. Canada announced tariffs ranging from 15-50pc on about $20bn of US goods, which are expected to take effect on 8 September. Plastic products on the list include packaging for goods such as stoppers, lids, caps and other plastic closures, along with plastic tableware, kitchenware and household appliances made of plastic, all of which will face a 50pc tariff, according to Canada's tariff list. The move is one of the clearest instances of plastics being targeted in the latest trade actions between the US and Canada. These products are typically made from PE and polypropylene (PP). PE bags are usually made from high density polyethylene (HDPE) or low density polyethylene (LDPE), while plastic tableware, lids, caps and other closures are often made from PP. Some packaging components may also use polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Any change in cross border demand for products covered by the tariffs could alter trade flows between the US and Canada and affect demand for recycled resin if material prices rise, though the extent of any market impact remains unclear. By Dona Davis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Recyclers urge EU to prioritise Europe material in PPWR

02/09/26

Recyclers urge EU to prioritise Europe material in PPWR

London, 2 September (Argus) — European waste management and recycling associations today called on the European Commission to ensure that the implementing act it is developing for the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) leads to favoured status for European-made recyclates in European-made packaging. It called for a ‘Made in Europe' approach, meaning that it is more favourable for recycled content requirements for European-produced packaging to be met by recycled plastic resin made from waste collected and recycled in Europe. It pointed to the recent implementing act for the EU Single-Use Plastic Directive as an example. For packaging made outside Europe, the associations said that recycled resin should only count towards the recycled content targets if the commission deems the country of origin to meet EU standards for environmentally sound waste management. They added that the recycling facility that produces the pellets should also have to be independently certified to prove that it complies with the environmental, operational and traceability requirements that EU recyclers must meet, for recyclates to count towards post-consumer resin targets. The commission had called for evidence last month on PPWR recycled content rules, inviting EU and non-EU stakeholders to submit feedback on the topics by 16 September. It plans to publish a draft implementing act after the consultation, with final adoption planned for the fourth quarter. By Anna Fittock Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Ethylene surplus weighs on naphtha demand

02/09/26

Ethylene surplus weighs on naphtha demand

London, 2 September (Argus) — European naphtha demand from the petrochemical sector is unlikely to rebound sharply despite improved Rhine logistics, as an oversupplied ethylene market continues to weigh on steam cracker operating rates. European cracker utilisation fell to 65-70pc in August, according to petrochemical market participants, as weak demand across the olefins chain reduced incentives to raise rates. August is typically slower because plastics converters shut units seasonally, but participants described this year's demand as particularly weak. Lower cracker runs have done little to tighten ethylene balances. The European market remains long despite logistical disruptions along the Rhine that limited feedstock deliveries to some inland crackers , as crackers were also unable to deliver finished products out, participants said. Coastal crackers, which have more LPG flexibility, were less affected compared with inland plants along the Rhine that run higher naphtha configurations. LPG margins are more attractive , while ethane-fed producers still benefit from lower feedstock costs, participants said. Ethylene demand strengthened earlier this year on expectations that disruption to Middle East olefin exports could tighten global supply, but those concerns have faded. Trade flows adjusted and supply remained available , participants said. Some seasonal improvement is expected in September as converters return from summer shutdowns, but there is little sign of a broader rebound in consumption. Quarter-end inventory targets could also discourage restocking later this month, participants said. A rise in Rhine water levels over the past two weeks has eased constraints on naphtha barge movements to inland European markets. But the respite may prove short-lived, with water levels forecast to fall again in the coming days. Water levels at the Kaub chokepoint on the Rhine breached 70cm over the weekend, but are set to fall back to 40cm by the end of the week. Naphtha cracking margins have stabilised from early-summer lows of around a $19-12/t discount to North Sea dated to about a $4/t discount, but remain weaker than for alternative feedstocks. Support for naphtha has instead come from the gasoline sector . Strong blending economics drew down blending-grade naphtha inventories that built during the Rhine disruption, providing an outlet for surplus barrels , participants said. By Jide Tijani Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more