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Polyethylene: top exporters and importers (2024)

In 2024, world trade in polyethylene totaled $85.2 billion (69.8 million tonnes). The top exporters were the United States (19%), Saudi Arabia (13%) and South Korea (7%); the top importers were China (21%), the United States (5%) and India (4%). Compared with 2019, the value rose 5%.

Summary

World trade
$85.2billion
Tonnes
69.8million tonnes
Price per tonne
$1,219
The largest flows between countries. Width: value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand

Top exporters

  1. United States$16.5 billion · 19.4%
    see destinations
  2. Saudi Arabia$11 billion · 12.9%
    see destinations
  3. South Korea$5.7 billion · 6.7%
    see destinations
  4. Canada$4.6 billion · 5.4%
    see destinations
  5. Belgium$4.1 billion · 4.8%
    re-exports · see destinations
  6. United Arab Emirates$4 billion · 4.7%
    see destinations
  7. Singapore$3.4 billion · 4%
    re-exports · see destinations
  8. Germany$3.4 billion · 4%
    see destinations
  9. Netherlands$3.3 billion · 3.8%
    re-exports · see destinations
  10. Thailand$3.2 billion · 3.7%
    see destinations
  11. China$2.2 billion · 2.5%
    see destinations
  12. Qatar$2 billion · 2.3%
    see destinations
  13. Iran$1.9 billion · 2.2%
    see destinations
  14. Spain$1.9 billion · 2.2%
    see destinations
  15. France$1.6 billion · 1.9%
    see destinations
  16. Malaysia$1.6 billion · 1.8%
    see destinations
  17. Austria$1.1 billion · 1.2%
  18. Italy$1 billion · 1.2%
  19. Japan$979 million · 1.2%
  20. Sweden$922 million · 1.1%

Top importers

  1. China$18.2 billion · 21.4%
    see sources
  2. United States$4.2 billion · 5%
    see sources
  3. India$3.7 billion · 4.3%
    see sources
  4. Germany$3.5 billion · 4.1%
    see sources
  5. Vietnam$3.2 billion · 3.8%
    see sources
  6. Turkey$2.8 billion · 3.3%
    see sources
  7. Italy$2.7 billion · 3.2%
    see sources
  8. Mexico$2.5 billion · 3%
    see sources
  9. Brazil$2.3 billion · 2.7%
    see sources
  10. Belgium$2.1 billion · 2.4%
    re-exports · see sources
  11. Poland$1.9 billion · 2.3%
    see sources
  12. France$1.9 billion · 2.2%
    see sources
  13. Spain$1.8 billion · 2.2%
    see sources
  14. Indonesia$1.8 billion · 2.2%
    see sources
  15. Malaysia$1.7 billion · 2%
    see sources
  16. Singapore$1.6 billion · 1.9%
    re-exports · see sources
  17. Canada$1.4 billion · 1.7%
  18. United Kingdom$1.4 billion · 1.6%
  19. Netherlands$1.2 billion · 1.4%
    re-exports
  20. Egypt$1.1 billion · 1.3%

Trend

Who sells it

The United States has been the top exporter since 2020

Value in USD billions. The five largest exporters in 2024.

  • United States 16.5
  • Saudi Arabia 11
  • South Korea 5.7
  • Canada 4.6
  • Belgium 4.1

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Country19952024
United States2.116.5
Saudi Arabia1.211
South Korea15.7
Canada1.34.6
Belgium24.1

Price

Implied price

The price per tonne rose 16% since 1995

Current US dollars per tonne: value over the weight reported by BACI.

  • 2024: $1,219

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearUSD per tonne
1995$1,048
1996$888
1997$934
1998$790
1999$754
2000$855
2001$769
2002$727
2003$818
2004$1,048
2005$1,209
2006$1,351
2007$1,496
2008$1,722
2009$1,262
2010$1,461
2011$1,640
2012$1,555
2013$1,622
2014$1,683
2015$1,429
2016$1,362
2017$1,333
2018$1,380
2019$1,209
2020$1,042
2021$1,506
2022$1,557
2023$1,292
2024$1,219

What it includes

Ethylene polymers in primary forms.

  • 3901 · Polyethylene

Products in the same chapter

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), which reconciles what exporters and importers report: countries that stopped reporting (Russia since 2022) appear with their partners’ data. FOB values in current US dollars; tonnes when BACI reports them. The price per tonne is the value of the rows with a weight divided by that weight. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Data up to 2024.

Hong Kong, Singapore, the Netherlands and Belgium re-export goods from other countries: their figures include transit.

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