Blog - Rubber And Plastic

The oil and gas industry is the largest supplier of plastic. It provides the raw material for everything from water bottles to food packaging to medical supplies. But the industry is also one of the biggest polluters, contributing to climate change and ocean plastic pollution.

After a slump in 2020, U.S. conveyor or transmission belt exports recovered to $430M in 2021. 

U.S. purchases of bus and truck tyres from China shrank from $1.1B in 2011 to $0.2B in 2021, while imports from Thailand jumped from $0.4B to $1.5B over the last decade. 

Exports of carboys, bottles and similar articles of plastics from China soared from $1.4B in 2019 to $2.3B in 2020 due to rising demand from the U.S., Japan and Thailand. 

Global imports of flexible tubes, pipes and hoses of plastics surged to 145K tonnes in 2020, with an increase of 27% against the previous year's figure. In value terms, supplies rose remarkably from $1.2B to $1.3B.

U.S. condom imports rose sharply from 1.3B units in 2019 to 1.5B units in 2020, reaching the highest level since 2011. In value terms, supplies skyrocketed from $48M to $57M. 

From January-October 2021, the U.S. exported 76K tonnes of plastic pipes and fittings, 9% more than in the same period of the previous year. In monetary terms, exports reached $1.17B, rising by 30% against the comparable period of 2020. Last year, U.S. supplies abroad dropped by 10% y-o-y to 132K tonnes, owing primarily to a sharp reduction in deliveries to Canada and Mexico, the major importers of American plastic products. The average export price for plastic pipes and fittings from the U.S. increased by 2.3% y-o-y to $8,163 per tonne in 2020.

By the end of 2021, Czech exports of artificial guts (sausage skins) should surpass the last year’s $426M. Although the shipments in physical terms decreased compared to the figures of 2020, the export value rose by +5.5% to $333M from January to September 2021 due to higher prices. The Czech Republic remains the largest supplier worldwide, accounting for 21% of global sausage skin exports. Russia, Germany and Poland are the major importers of artificial guts from Czechia. 

American imports of polyethylene films steadily grew during the last decade, surpassing $1.7B in 2020. The U.S. has nearly doubled polyethylene film purchases, increasing supplies from 281K to 512K tonnes. Approximately 54% of American polyethylene film imports come from Canada, and a further 15% is supplied from China and Mexico. The average import price for polyethylene films imported to the U.S. decreased by -4.1% y-o-y to $3,318 per tonne in 2020.

American imports of plastic shutters and blinds jumped by +11% y-o-y to 97M units in 2020. In value terms, imports grew to $887M, steadily rising during the past decade. Cambodia, China and Vietnam constitute the largest suppliers to the U.S., accounting for 75% of the American imports. Vietnam emerged as the fastest-growing exporter of plastic shutters and blinds to the U.S. last year. The average import price for plastic shutters and blinds dropped by -8.9% y-o-y $9.1 per unit in 2020.

In 2020, American imports of plastic sacks and bags soared by +7.7% y-o-y to $3.2B, continuing a steady increase seen over the past decade. China, Canada and Thailand remain leading suppliers of plastic sacks and bags to the U.S., accounting for 55% of the American imports. Last year, purchases from China declined, while imports from Canada grew significantly. Germany emerged as the fastest-growing supplier of plastic sacks and bags to the U.S. The average plastic bag import price increased by +2.7% y-o-y to $3,284 per tonne in 2020.

Last year, American imports of plastic tableware and kitchenware skyrocketed by +35% y-o-y to 942K tonnes, reaching $3.6B in value terms. China prevails in the American import structure, comprising 79% of the total volume; Vietnam and Mexico follow. All these countries expanded their exports of plastic tableware and kitchenware to America last year. The average import price for plastic tableware and kitchenware fell by -24.8% y-o-y to $3,847 per tonne in 2020.