South Korean PVC to China dips to unusually low levels in H2-08, replaced by American PVC

28-Jan-10

According to statistics from Chinese customs, imports of South Korean PVC have dipped to unusually low levels in H2-08 in view of the massive upsurge in overall polymer imports into China. As per Chemorbis, other global markets report seeing an increasing number of offers for South Korean cargoes at or close to par with the offer levels seen in China. In December 2009, Chinese buyers imported 1,873 tons of South Korean PVC, marking the fifth consecutive month in which China received less than 2,000 tons of South Korean PVC, the longest such drought since the middle of 2008. This is viewed as further evidence of a shift in trading patterns wherein South Korean exporters are out in search of new markets while origins with more favorable customs arrangements such as Southeast Asia, have begun to move into China in greater numbers. Also of interest is the massive upsurge in exports of American PVC to China. For the whole of 2009, China imported 302,157 tons of American PVC, making America the third largest supplier of PVC to China in 2009 behind Japan (391,989 tons) and Taiwan (326,112 tons). When compared with 2008, America’s PVC exports to China skyrocketed 390% over the past year.