U.S. Exports of Plastic Scrap Declined 35% in Q1 2018

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The U.S. exported $132.37 million worth of plastic scrap during the opening three months of the current year, in accordance with the latest trade statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The quarterly exports declined significantly by 35% when compared with the corresponding three-month period in 2017. The plastic scrap exports had totaled $203.6 million in Jan-Mar ’17.

The top five foreign markets for US plastic scrap exports were Malaysia, Thailand, Canada, Hong Kong and India. The U.S. exports to these five countries totaled $80.81 million, accounting for nearly 60% of total exports during the quarter. The largest export destination was Malaysia with imports of $21.7 million plastic scrap from the U.S, representing 16% of total export market share. The imports by Thailand and Canada totaled $17.54 million and $16.07 million respectively. Hong Kong ($12.85 million) and India ($12.65 million) were the other major importers of U.S. plastic scrap exports.

Meantime, the U.S. imports of plastic waste and scrap surged higher by 15% to total $57.6 million during the first quarter of 2018. The imports had totaled only $50.28 million during the corresponding quarter last year.

The key supplier-Mexico accounted for shipment of almost 40% of the plastic scrap imported by the U.S. during the quarter. The imports from Mexico totaled $22.86 million. The second largest exporter was Canada. The imports from the neighboring country recorded year-on-year jump of more than 16% to total $12.09 million. In third place was China with $3 million. The other major suppliers were Honduras ($1.59 million) and Indonesia ($1.51 million). The supplies from the above five countries accounted for more than 71% of total imports by the US.

The U.S. plastic scrap imports had totaled $221.52 million during the entire year 2017.