Stats: China sustains net PP exports in April; PE imports surge

According to ChemOrbis Stats Wizard, China saw significant shifts in its PP and PE foreign trade during April. While exports of both polymers declined from March, the county remained a net exporter of PP for the second consecutive month. At the same time, PE imports surged, reinforcing the country’s continued reliance on foreign PE supply despite growing domestic capacity.

China maintains net exporter status in PP for second month

In April, both imports and exports of PP resins declined on a monthly basis. Imports extended their downward trend for the third consecutive month, while exports, though down from March, remained above import levels, solidifying China’s net exporter status for a second straight month. This trend underscores local producers’ strategic push to ease domestic oversupply via exports.

Total PP exports dropped by over 11% from March, yet they marked a 12% increase year-on-year. PP imports inched down by around 1% month-on-month and slipped by 2% compared to the same period last year. In value terms, April PP exports totaled around $302,390, slightly under the $313,740 spent on imports.

Singapore maintained its lead as China’s largest PP supplier, followed by South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. On the export side, Vietnam remained the top importer of Chinese-origin PP, accounting for 16% of exports.

PE imports surge, exports fail to extend March record

China’s PE imports—which include LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, and mLLDPE—rose sharply in April, surging by 15% from March and by 14% on a yearly basis. In contrast, PE exports declined by about 15% in a monthly comparison, pulling back from the all-time high recorded in March. Still, they were 3% higher compared to April 2024, indicating modest annual growth.

In terms of trade value, the overall PE imports exceeded $1.4 million, whereas PE exports stood at approximately $114,370 in the fourth month of 2025.

Despite tariff hurdles amid the escalated US-China trade war in April, the US remained China’s largest source of PE resin imports, followed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. On the export side, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Vietnam were the leading destinations for Chinese PE.

Massive polyolefin capacity expansions ahead

According to ChemOrbis Supply Wizard, China added 2.75 million tons/year of new PE capacity in the first four months of the year. Looking ahead, another 3.53 million tons are slated to come online by the end of December. The expansion in PP capacity has been even more aggressive. 3.15 million tons/year were already commissioned in the first four months, with an additional 4.6 million tons expected to be operational by year-end.

China’s ongoing efforts to boost polyolefin self-sufficiency, combined with subdued domestic demand, are reshaping trade flows. The continued decline in PP imports and back-to-back months of net exports underscore this shift. While PE imports remain robust for now, they may eventually taper as newly added capacities come online and mature. Over the coming months, global markets are likely to see an increased presence of Chinese-origin PP and, potentially, PE—further cementing China’s influence in international polyolefin trade.

For detailed figures on tonnage and more, visit ChemOrbis Stats Wizard.

For detailed data on global supply situations, visit ChemOrbis Supply Wizard.