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Polyethylene and polypropylene

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Brazil: 1.3–9.2%Source [1] of its polyethylene and polypropylene imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz (2025), the largest share of one country on file.

This page answers: Who supplies whom with this good, which straits does it pass, and who runs short first?

Using this page
  1. Read the short version: who supplies whom, the straits it passes and who runs short first.
  2. Tap a country for its page, or a strait for its page.
  3. Choose Full analyst view for the flow ledger, the sources and the method.
Link to this page

Supply balance

Exhibit S-1 · Supply balance
How much each country makes, buys and sells
Consumption = production + imports − exports (± stock change).
Reading the supply balance

Supply balance first, suppliers second.

Each card shows the latest complete period: the newest with consumption and at least one of production, imports and exports on file. The table also keeps the newest period where it is partial.

Shown in million tonnes.

Trade only for most countries: production not on file.

Each item is its own balance, in its own unit. They are never added together.

Shown first: the two largest net importers and the two largest net exporters on file, latest complete period.

India

Polyethylene · 2023 · MtNET IMPORTER
Production5.29 Mt
Imports2.8 Mt
Exports0.29 Mt
Consumption7.8 Mt
Net import dependence
32.1%
Via a strait, share of use
not on file
Stocks cover
not on file

In 2023, India imported 2.8 Mt and produced 5.29 Mt. Net imports met 32.1% of its use.

Source: Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India

Also on file: Polypropylene
Polypropylene · 2023 · MtNET IMPORTER
Production5.37 Mt
Imports1.72 Mt
Exports0.35 Mt
Consumption6.74 Mt
Net import dependence
20.3%
Via a strait, share of use
not on file
Stocks cover
not on file

In 2023, India imported 1.72 Mt and produced 5.37 Mt. Net imports met 20.3% of its use.

Source: Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India

Thailand

Polyethylene · 2023 · MtTRADE NOT ON FILE
Production3.91 Mt
Importsnot on file
Exportsnot on file
Consumption1.6 Mt
Net import dependence
none (net producer)
Via a strait, share of use
not on file
Stocks cover
not on file

In 2023, Thailand produced 3.91 Mt and used 1.6 Mt. Its imports and exports are not on file.

Source: Federation of Thai Industries, Petrochemical Industry Club (FTIPC)

Also on file: Polypropylene
Polypropylene · 2023 · MtTRADE NOT ON FILE
Production1.91 Mt
Importsnot on file
Exportsnot on file
Consumption1.39 Mt
Net import dependence
none (net producer)
Via a strait, share of use
not on file
Stocks cover
not on file

In 2023, Thailand produced 1.91 Mt and used 1.39 Mt. Its imports and exports are not on file.

Source: Federation of Thai Industries, Petrochemical Industry Club (FTIPC)

SourceDepartment of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Federation of Thai Industries, Petrochemical Industry Club (FTIPC) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named).Reading this plateEach bar is one figure in the row's own unit, scaled to the largest of the four. A hollow bar is worked out from the other three, not reported. The accent marks the selected country.
Exhibit S-1 · Polyethylene and polypropylene · strature.net
Exhibit S-2 · Map
Polyethylene and polypropylene: net import dependence, country by country
Polyethylene · Colour: net import dependence, latest complete period on file. Tap a country for its balance.
Skip the map

The map needs JavaScript. Every country is in the table below.

Colour: net import dependence, latest complete period on file. Tap a country for its balance.

SourceZhiyan Consulting (chyxx.com) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Federation of Thai Industries, Petrochemical Industry Club (FTIPC) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Hydrocarbon Processing, reporting Borouge results (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Statistics Canada (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); ChinaBaogao (Guanyan Tianxia), industry research (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Eurostat (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Office for National Statistics (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Donya-e-Eqtesad (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Japan Petrochemical Industry Association (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); KazMunayGas (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Capital (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Finansoviy Mir (fomag.ru), reporting SIBUR (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); American Chemistry Council (PIPS, compiled by Vault Consulting) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Ministry of Finance Japan / e-Stat (Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0, compatible with CC BY 4.0.).
Exhibit S-2 · Polyethylene and polypropylene · strature.net
Exhibit S-3 · Over time
India: production, trade and use over time
Hover, tap or focus a point for its value, period, grade and source.

Polyethylene · million tonnes

Only one period is on file for this country.

Polypropylene · million tonnes

Only one period is on file for this country.

Polyethylene and polypropylene · million tonnes

Only one period is on file for this country.

SourceDepartment of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India (Cited figure; credit the publisher named).
Exhibit S-3 · Polyethylene and polypropylene · strature.net
Exhibit S-4 · Every figure
Every figure, as a table
Every figure: the latest complete period per country, and the newest where it is partial. Scroll sideways inside the table on a phone.
CountryItemPeriodProductionImportsExportsConsumptionNet import dependenceGradeSource
CanadaPolyethylene (Mt)20244.1 Mtnot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileHigh confidenceStatistics Canada
ChinaPolyethylene (Mt)202428 Mt Low confidencenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileLow confidenceChinaBaogao (Guanyan Tianxia), industry research
ChinaPolypropylene (Mt)202437.9 Mt Low confidencenot on filenot on file36 Mt Low confidence-5.4% Low confidenceLow confidenceZhiyan Consulting (chyxx.com)
EU (27)Polyethylene (Mt)202410.9 Mt estimatenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileMedium confidence estimateEurostat
EU (27)Polypropylene (Mt)20249.02 Mt estimatenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileHigh confidence estimateEurostat
FrancePolypropylene (Mt)20241.13 Mtnot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileHigh confidenceEurostat
GermanyPolypropylene (Mt)20241.64 Mtnot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileHigh confidenceEurostat
IndiaPolyethylene (Mt)20235.29 Mt2.8 Mt0.29 Mt7.8 Mt32.1%Medium confidenceDepartment of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India
IndiaPolypropylene (Mt)20235.37 Mt1.72 Mt0.35 Mt6.74 Mt20.3%High confidenceDepartment of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India
IranPolyethylene (Mt)20225 Mt Low confidencenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileLow confidenceDonya-e-Eqtesad
JapanPolyethylene (Mt)20241.82 Mt Low confidencenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileLow confidenceJapan Petrochemical Industry Association
JapanPolypropylene (Mt)20241.93 Mtnot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileMedium confidenceJapan Petrochemical Industry Association
Show every figure (22 rows)
CountryItemPeriodProductionImportsExportsConsumptionNet import dependenceGradeSource
KazakhstanPolypropylene (Mt)20240.25 Mt Low confidencenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileLow confidenceKazMunayGas
RomaniaPolypropylene (Mt)20240.06 Mt Low confidencenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileLow confidenceCapital
RussiaPolyethylene and polypropylene (Mt)2024not on filenot on filenot on file4.5 Mt Low confidence estimatenot on fileLow confidence estimateFinansoviy Mir (fomag.ru), reporting SIBUR
ThailandPolyethylene (Mt)20233.91 Mtnot on filenot on file1.6 Mt-144%Medium confidenceFederation of Thai Industries, Petrochemical Industry Club (FTIPC)
ThailandPolypropylene (Mt)20231.91 Mtnot on filenot on file1.39 Mt-37.4%Medium confidenceFederation of Thai Industries, Petrochemical Industry Club (FTIPC)
United Arab EmiratesPolyethylene and polypropylene (Mt)20245.2 Mt Low confidencenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileLow confidenceHydrocarbon Processing, reporting Borouge results
United KingdomPolyethylene (Mt)20240.05 Mtnot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileMedium confidenceOffice for National Statistics
United KingdomPolypropylene (Mt)20240.2 Mtnot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileHigh confidenceOffice for National Statistics
United StatesPolyethylene (Mt)202428.7 Mt Low confidencenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileLow confidenceAmerican Chemistry Council (PIPS, compiled by Vault Consulting)
United StatesPolypropylene (Mt)20248 Mtnot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileMedium confidenceAmerican Chemistry Council (PIPS, compiled by Vault Consulting)

Marks: Low confidence (a less certain source, shown with its source) and estimate (the source's own estimate). Not on file: no figure published.

Download CSV

The CSV leaves out 22 rows. Their sources (Hydrocarbon Processing, reporting Borouge results; Statistics Canada; ChinaBaogao (Guanyan Tianxia), industry research; Zhiyan Consulting (chyxx.com); Eurostat; Office for National Statistics; Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India; Donya-e-Eqtesad; Japan Petrochemical Industry Association; KazMunayGas; Capital; Finansoviy Mir (fomag.ru), reporting SIBUR; Federation of Thai Industries, Petrochemical Industry Club (FTIPC); American Chemistry Council (PIPS, compiled by Vault Consulting)) allow their figures to be cited, not passed on. They are in the table with their source.

SourceHydrocarbon Processing, reporting Borouge results (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Statistics Canada (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); ChinaBaogao (Guanyan Tianxia), industry research (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Zhiyan Consulting (chyxx.com) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Eurostat (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Office for National Statistics (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Donya-e-Eqtesad (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Japan Petrochemical Industry Association (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); KazMunayGas (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Capital (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Finansoviy Mir (fomag.ru), reporting SIBUR (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Federation of Thai Industries, Petrochemical Industry Club (FTIPC) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); American Chemistry Council (PIPS, compiled by Vault Consulting) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named).
Exhibit S-4 · Polyethylene and polypropylene · strature.net

Who buys, who sells

Buyers on file and their suppliers

  1. EU (27)
  2. France inside the EU (27) figure, never added to it
  3. Germany inside the EU (27) figure, never added to it
  4. Japan
  5. Bangladesh
    • Canada share not on file
  6. Greece
  7. India
    • Canada share not on file

6 of 8 buyers on file, most suppliers first; every flow is in the flow ledger. Each share is the supplier’s share of that buyer’s imports of this good, as published (one unit, per cent); shares are never added. The EU (27) is a bloc, on the switch, never added to its members. Records whose every figure is zero stay in the ledger only.

Suppliers on file

  1. Canada 4 buyers on file
  2. Saudi Arabia 4 buyers on file
  3. Qatar 3 buyers on file
  4. United Arab Emirates 3 buyers on file
  5. China 2 buyers on file
  6. Japan 2 buyers on file

Suppliers by the number of buyers on file (countries; the EU (27) not counted). A count of records, not a measure of volume.

Straits it passes

  • Bab el-Mandeb

    34 of the 42 flows on file pass it on their modelled route

  • Suez Canal

    34 of the 42 flows on file pass it on their modelled route

  • Strait of Malacca

    28 of the 42 flows on file pass it on their modelled route

  • Strait of Hormuz

    15 of the 42 flows on file pass it on their modelled route

    Cited shares of a country’s imports that pass it:

    1. Brazil 1.3–9.2%Source [1]

  • Cape of Good Hope

    1 of the 42 flows on file pass it on their modelled route

Counts are counts of flow records (records whose every figure is zero left out). Routes are modelled main routes, not ship tracks; a share is shown only where a source gives it.

If a strait closes

Who runs short first

Case: Strait of Hormuz closed, restricted or unsafe. For each country, the day on file when its supply shortfall begins for this good, or, where nothing runs short, when its late-arrival gap begins.

3 of the 3 countries on file for this good reach a supply shortfall in this case; the first to run short are listed first.

  1. EU (27) supply shortfall begins: day 19

    first day with cargo lost (no stock record on file)

  2. France supply shortfall begins: day 19

    first day with cargo lost (no stock record on file)

    Inside the EU (27) figure: shown, never added to it or to a total
  3. Germany supply shortfall begins: day 19

    first day with cargo lost (no stock record on file)

    Inside the EU (27) figure: shown, never added to it or to a total
  4. Japan supply shortfall begins: day 20

    first day with cargo lost (no stock record on file)

Days as on file in the precomputed case “Strait of Hormuz closed for 30 days” (Strature network pack, the network map’s default settings). Day 0 is the first day of the closure; the shaded part of each line is the closure (30 days); each line runs to day 120.

Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; not a forecast; not advice. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; it does not say whether, when or for how long a strait will close.

Forecasts in our register

Our register asks no question about this good alone. The forecast register

Full analyst view

The flow ledger

Every flow on file
Supplier → buyerYearBasisShare of the buyer’s importsVolumeStraits on the modelled routeConfidence
Canada → Bangladesh2025mirror–2 t/yrSource [5]Strait of Malaccahigh
China → EU (27)2025observed2.105%Source [2]131,500 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
India → EU (27)2025observed0.500%Source [2]32,570 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
Japan → EU (27)2025observed1.105%Source [2]33,650 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
Qatar → EU (27)2025observed3.758%Source [2]306,700 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
Saudi Arabia → EU (27)2025observed18.42%Source [2]1,479,000 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
Singapore → EU (27)2025observed1.458%Source [2]71,030 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
South Korea → EU (27)2025observed14.3%Source [2]966,300 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
United Arab Emirates → EU (27)2025observed0.716%Source [2]48,520 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
Vietnam → EU (27)2025observed1.569%Source [2]123,100 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
China → France2025observed4.497%Source [2]5,757 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
India → France2025observed0.562%Source [2]90.76 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
Iran → France2025observed0.071%Source [2]148.2 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
Japan → France2025observed6.899%Source [2]3,610 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
Kuwait → France2025observed2.69%Source [2]6,831 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
Qatar → France2025observed1.211%Source [2]2,827 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
Saudi Arabia → France2025observed3.538%Source [2]7,769 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
Singapore → France2025observed6.247%Source [2]5,603 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
South Korea → France2025observed5.881%Source [2]9,317 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
Thailand → France2025observed0.724%Source [2]1,169 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
United Arab Emirates → France2025observed0.423%Source [2]942.4 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
China → Germany2025observed22.16%Source [2]43,790 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
Japan → Germany2025observed6.528%Source [2]3,838 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
Qatar → Germany2025observed1.17%Source [2]2,818 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
Saudi Arabia → Germany2025observed2.876%Source [2]7,397 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
Singapore → Germany2025observed0.906%Source [2]778.2 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
South Korea → Germany2025observed5.919%Source [2]11,430 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
Taiwan → Germany2025observed0.190%Source [2]323.9 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
Thailand → Germany2025observed1.251%Source [2]2,383 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
United Arab Emirates → Germany2025observed2.85%Source [2]7,050 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
Vietnam → Germany2025observed3.581%Source [2]8,430 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
Saudi Arabia → Greece2025cited18.9%Source [4]–Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
Canada → India2025mirror–2,265 t/yrSource [5]Strait of Malaccahigh
Brazil → Japan2025observed–5,881 t/yrSource [3]Strait of Malacca, Cape of Good Hopehigh
Germany → Japan2025observed1.44%Source [3]5,524 t/yrSource [3]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
Netherlands → Japan2025observed0.784%Source [3]4,308 t/yrSource [3]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
Qatar → Japan2025observed–36,740 t/yrSource [3]Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malaccahigh
Saudi Arabia → Japan2025observed–51,770 t/yrSource [3]Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malaccahigh
Spain → Japan2025observed1.561%Source [3]9,877 t/yrSource [3]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
United Arab Emirates → Japan2025observed–79,620 t/yrSource [3]Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malaccahigh
Canada → Kenya2025mirror–0 t/yrSource [5]Strait of Malaccahigh
Canada → Oman2025mirror–140 t/yrSource [5]Strait of Malaccahigh
Canada → United Arab Emirates2025mirror–75 t/yrSource [5]Strait of Malaccahigh

Basis: observed (reported by the buyer), mirror (reported by the supplier) or cited (a published figure). Volumes are shown in the one unit the pack uses for this good and are never added. Rows to the EU (27) show on the switch.

Supplier concentration

No supplier concentration index on file for this good. The flow ledger lists the suppliers on file.

Scenario cases

  • Strait of Hormuz closed, restricted or unsafe

    In short In a 30-day closure some oil never arrives at all: of the economies shown, China loses the most, 310-317 million barrels. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; not a forecast; not advice. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; it does not say whether, when or for how long a strait will close.

  • Red Sea: half of traffic avoids Bab el-Mandeb for 90 days

    In short Going round the Cape for 90 days loses nothing on lanes with a cited Cape route: 55 million barrels of the economies shown arrive late, most of it the EU's. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; not a forecast; not advice. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; it does not say whether, when or for how long a strait will close.

  • Strait of Malacca closed for 14 days

    In short Closing the Strait of Malacca causes delay, not loss: ships go by Lombok and Makassar, about 3 days longer. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; not a forecast; not advice. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; it does not say whether, when or for how long a strait will close.

Briefs

No brief on this good alone yet. The library

Method

Every figure on this page carries its source, its year and a link; figures from 2023 or older carry an amber mark. The flows are the Strature network pack (approved, independently re-checked); a good has its own page when the pack carries ten or more flows for it. Shares are as published and never added; volumes stay in the one unit the pack uses for the good and are never added across goods. Routes are modelled main routes. The days in “Who runs short first” are read from the precomputed cases the network map and the scenario pages use; late cargo is never added to lost cargo, and the EU (27) is never added to its members. The forecast box shows our register’s words and estimates unchanged, each scored when it resolves.

Sources and licences

  1. [1] MDIC/SECEX Comex Stat, 2025
  2. [2] Share of EU (27)'s polyethylene and polypropylene imports from Saudi Arabia. Eurostat, 2025
  3. [3] Share of Japan's polyethylene and polypropylene imports from Spain. Ministry of Finance Japan / e-Stat, 2025
  4. [4] Share of Greece's polyethylene and polypropylene imports from Saudi Arabia. Eurostat Comext, 2025
  5. [5] Statistics Canada, 2025

Cite this page Strature, “Polyethylene and polypropylene”, Strature GPS, https://strature.net/gps/goods/polyethylene-polypropylene/, 31 Oct 2026.

  • Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; not a forecast; not advice.
  • Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; it does not say whether, when or for how long a strait will close.
  • We say “the Gulf” for the sea also called the Persian Gulf or the Arabian Gulf.
  • Routes are modelled, not ship tracks; not for navigation.
  • No data provider endorses Strature or this page, and none is affiliated with us.
  • General research, not advice.