Exports of Plastic Scrap Witnessed Significant Decline

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The latest U.S. Census Bureau data suggests substantial decline in exports of scrap plastic by the country during the first four-month period in 2020, upon comparison with the prior year. Also, the imports of the material recorded year-on-year decline during Jan-Apr ’20.

The U.S. exports of plastic waste and scrap have declined by approximately 31% year-on-year through April this year. The Jan-Apr ’20 exports were valued at $68.5 million, as compared with $99.77 million during the comparable four-month period a year before.

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The primary market destination of exports was Canada, despite the country recording 17.41% year-on-year decline in imports from the U.S. over the previous year. The Canadian imports totalled $18.55 million, accounting for over 26% of all shipments of scrap plastic by the U.S during the four-month period. The second largest importer was Malaysia, whose imports totalled $7.44 million. In third place was Hong Kong with $6.30 million worth of imports from the U.S. The other key foreign markets were Mexico ($5.43 million) and Vietnam ($3.83 million). The combined imports by the above five countries accounted for more than 61% of the total shipments of plastic scrap by the U.S. through April this year.

The U.S. imports of plastic waste, scrap witnessed 5.73% decline during January to April this year to $74.79 million. The top five sources of import were Mexico ($25.15 million), Canada ($15.12 million), Japan ($4.54 million), Honduras ($3.87 million) and Thailand ($3.71 million).