5% decline in US plastics scrap exports

United States – Substantially weaker demand from China dented American exports of plastics scrap last year, according to Census Bureau statistics. US overseas shipments to all destinations fell 5% in volume terms to 1.9 million tonnes while overall value dropped 8% to less than US$ 860 million – well below the 2011 peak of more than US$ 1 billion.

In value terms, exports of US plastics scrap to China tumbled 18% last year to US$ 412 million while shipments to Canada slumped 23% to US$ 70 million. In contrast, the value of US plastics scrap deliveries to India jumped 24% to US$ 65 million while sales to Indonesia soared 219% to US$ 34 million.

The figures support the view expressed at last October’s meeting of the BIR world recycling body′s Plastics Committee that China′s Green Fence import quality controls had helped to shift trade flows to other countries, notably elsewhere in Asia.

For more information, visit: www.census.gov