Ethylene Exports Surge, Propylene Trade Tempers in April: Census

U.S. Gulf Coast April ethylene exports surged 117% from March levels, while April propylene exports and imports saw decreases of over 20% from March levels, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

April ethylene exports totaled about 54,500 metric tons, roughly doubling the 25,000 mt reported in March. April volumes are down, however, 46% and 54%, respectively, from volumes reported in April 2024 and 2023.

Export volumes year to date have now reached just over 143,000 mt, down 60% and 64%, respectively, from the year-to-date levels of 359,000 mt in 2024 and 395,000 mt in 2023.

Countries receiving most of April’s U.S. ethylene cargos were Belgium (23,600 mt), Portugal (12,000 mt), France (9,400 mt) and Saudi Arabia (9,350 mt).

For propylene, April exports totaled 26,400 mt, down 21% from the March level of 33,500 mt. Volumes were 17% higher from the 22,500 mt reported in April 2024 and down 37% from the nearly 42,000 mt reported in April 2023.

Propylene export volumes year to date now total around 130,000 mt, up 40% from the 92,800 mt reported in the first four months of 2024, yet down 28% from the 179,000 mt reported in the first four months of 2023.

Colombia and Mexico continue to be top destinations for U.S. propylene cargoes, with 14,000 mt and 12,000 mt sent in April, respectively.

U.S. April propylene imports reached just under 4,000 mt, down 24% from March volumes of about 5,200 mt. April levels were 32% lower than the 5,800 mt reported in April 2024, yet 130% up from the 1,700 mt reported in April 2023.

In derivatives markets, ethylene oxide exports saw modest gains in April, up to 290 mt from the 94 mt exported in March. April ethylene glycol and propylene glycol exports fell slightly from March, down 5% and 8%, respectively, to 167,000 mt and 9,500 mt. Propylene oxide export volumes increased, however, 15% from the March level of 35,000 mt to around 41,000 mt.

Ethylene glycol imports for April were almost a third lower than March volumes at around 30,000 mt.

April phenol exports fell 28% to 8,800 mt from 12,200 mt in March while acetone exports fell a slight 4% to 5,600 mt from 5,900 mt in March.

Reporting by Adam Burkin, aburkin@opisnet.com
Editing by Anna Matherne Maldonado, amatherne@opisnet.com and Michael Kelly, mkelly@opisnet.com

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