The Business Times
business-time-50
Asean Business logo
SPONSORED BYUOB logo
COMMODITY INSIGHTS
·
SUBSCRIBERS

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

Research firm Argus expects the region’s prices to remain depressed

Summarise
google-preferred-sourceAdd BT as a preferred source
Mia Pei

Mia Pei

Published Wed, Jun 11, 2025 · 04:58 PM
    • Chinese plastic products once bound for the US will likely seek alternative markets – including South-east Asia. This threatens to further strain the region’s export-dependent finished goods sector, putting indirect downward pressure on polymer demand.
    • Chinese plastic products once bound for the US will likely seek alternative markets – including South-east Asia. This threatens to further strain the region’s export-dependent finished goods sector, putting indirect downward pressure on polymer demand. PHOTO: AFP

    [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.

    plasticsTradeAseanSouth-east Asia

    TRENDING NOW

    Longest-serving chief minister Taib Mahmud’s legacy looms large over Sarawak as a family feud over his estate threatens to expose skeleton’s in the eastern state’s political closet.

    On the board but frozen out: The Taib family feud tearing Sarawak construction giant apart

    Electric vehicles and the changed dynamics of mainstream and luxury car segments mean Certificates of Entitlement should not be used to classify cars.

    Is it time to scrap COE categories for cars? 

    Thailand’s target is to export seven million tonnes of rice globally in 2026, but the Middle East war has turned the world topsy-turvy with supply disruptions, high oil prices and economic uncertainty.

    Thai and Vietnamese farmers may stop planting rice because of the Iran war. Here’s why

    Court documents showed the largest sum of money Benjamin Chung Hiang Wee took was from his uncle, an odd-job worker.

    Former manager with DBS Bank admits cheating 7 victims, including his uncle, of over S$1 million

    Latest T-bills Treasury Bills Results & Interest NewsLatest SSB Singapore Savings Bonds NewsLatest COE Certificate of Entitlement News
    Latest Johor-Singapore SEZ NewsLatest BTO Build To Order & Sales of Balance NewsLatest STI Straits Times Index NewsLatest SGX Dividends, Share Price NewsLatest Bonds Market NewsLatest Singapore Stocks To Buy NewsLatest Singapore Economy News
    View More