Growth in US exports of plastic scrap

United States – Having exceeded 180 000 tonnes in April, US plastic scrap exports climbed 9% in the opening four months of this year to approaching 680 000 tonnes, according to latest Census Bureau figures. Overall value of the exported material was 6.5% higher than in January-April 2013 at more than US$ 295 million.

The leading overseas market for US plastic scrap was China, with purchases climbing almost 7% year on year to around US$ 140 million. Shipment values also increased to Canada (+1.9% to US$ 25 million), India (+3.2% to US$ 19 million) and Indonesia (+125% to US$ 15 million) but declined to Hong Kong (-7% to US$ 62 million) and Mexico (-5% to US$ 5 million).