In addition, February was the lowest month for scrap plastic exports to China since at least 2002, the first year for which figures are available.
By polymer, PE made up 45% of scrap plastic exports. “Other” plastics, the code that’s typically used for mixed-plastic bales, e-plastics and other assorted resins, made up 36%. Scrap PET exports made up 10%. The remainder was small quantities of PVC and PS.
Top export markets for U.S. scrap plastic were India (27 million pounds), Canada (26 million pounds), Hong Kong (11 million pounds), Malaysia (9 million pounds), Mexico (7 million pounds), South Korea (7 million pounds), Thailand (5 million pounds), Taiwan (4 million pounds) and Indonesia (3 million pounds).
(Click chart to view at full size in new browser window.)
Photo credit: s_oleg/Shutterstock
More stories about exports
- Recovered plastic exports flat in first half of 2024
- Scrap plastic exports flat despite regional shifts
- Scrap plastic exports drop to new low