South-east Asia’s polymer production crisis worsens as US-China trade shift looms

[SINGAPORE] South-east Asia’s petrochemical industry is facing a double whammy of weakening export demands and potential import surges, as trade tensions could redirect US polymer to the region’s already-saturated market, sustaining pressure on production.

Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), as crucial downstream segments, are encountering “considerable challenges” in the region, noted commodity markets intelligence firm Argus.

This is amid trade uncertainty exacerbated by a US federal appeals court ruling on Wednesday (Jun 11) that President Donald Trump’s tariffs can remain in place while it reviews an earlier court decision to block them. The latest ruling complicates newly drafted US-China plans to ease trade tensions.