Iran is readying the ground for resumption of petrochemicals exports as the nuclear deal it’s struck with six world powers, including the US, calls for lifting the sanctions that have throttled the country’s sales abroad and shrunk its economy by 20%. As Platts...
Wild Card in Polyethylene Trade: Iran Sanctions
Market watchers trying to factor in Iran’s potential return to global markets in oil, gas and petrochemicals have no choice but to spin many an alternative scenario. Limited sanction relief provided by November 2013’s Geneva Interim Agreement has resulted in limited...
Can US Polyethylene Net Exports Expect a Lift from Shale?
The trade data shows US polyethylene net exports decreased 20% in October and 7% in November 2014 compared to the same months in 2013 – continuing a downward trend that has persisted since 2009 and through last year’s first three quarters: The US is still a net...
Plastic Bag Tug of War
First-ever countervailing duty to be imposed on Vietnam The Department of Commerce has issued final determinations of anti-dumping duties to be imposed on plastic grocery bags made in Taiwan, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Polyethylene retail carrier bags — or PRCBs — have...
Plastic Bags Upstream & Down
PRCBs are once and future export drivers Stepping back from the trade tug of war over the U.S. market for polyethylene retail carrier bags, overseas suppliers make a positive contribution to growth in U.S. export sales of the low density polyethylene resins from which...