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European Mineral Wool Imports Fall Owing to Declining Purchases in France and Italy

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European Mineral Wool Imports Fall Owing to Declining Purchases in France and Italy

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘EU – Slag Wool, Rock Wool And Similar Mineral Wools And Mixtures – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

In 2020, European mineral wool imports dropped by -6.5% y-o-y to 1.3M tonnes. In value terms, they declined to $1.3B. France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Romania, the Czech Republic and Belgium account for 74% of the total import volume in the EU. Last year, France, Germany and Italy saw a reduction in the volume of purchases from abroad. In 2020, the mineral wool import price in Europe remained relatively unchanged compared to the figures of the previous year.

Mineral Wool Imports in the EU

In 2020, approx. 1.3M tonnes of slag wool, rock wool and similar mineral wools and mixtures were imported in the EU, which was -6.5% lower compared with the year before. In value terms, mineral wool imports declined to $1.3B (IndexBox estimates) in 2020.


France (182K tonnes), Italy (147K tonnes), Germany (139K tonnes), Austria (102K tonnes), Poland (82K tonnes), Sweden (81K tonnes), Romania (79K tonnes), the Czech Republic (64K tonnes) and Belgium (56K tonnes) represented roughly 74% of total imports of slag wool, rock wool and similar mineral wools and mixtures in 2020. The following importers – Latvia (37K tonnes), Slovenia (34K tonnes), Finland (30K tonnes) and the Netherlands (30K tonnes) – together made up 10% of total imports.

France (-3.9% y-o-y), Italy (-10.0% y-o-y) and Germany (-10.0% y-o-y) reduced their purchases in physical terms against the previous year. Among other countries, Poland (-16.4% y-o-y) saw the most prominent drop in terms of import volume.

In value terms, Germany ($193M), France ($165M) and Italy ($128M) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2020, with a combined 38% share of total imports. These countries were followed by Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Finland, the Netherlands, Latvia and Slovenia, which together accounted for a further 45%.

In 2020, the mineral wool import price in the EU amounted to $1,014 per tonne, remaining relatively unchanged against the previous year. There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2020, the country with the highest price was Finland ($1,548 per tonne), while Romania ($650 per tonne) was amongst the lowest. In 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Belgium, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

dates
Archives, EU Trade, Global Trade Daily, News

European Imports of Dates Surge over $430M

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘EU – Dates – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

European date imports jumped from 137K tonnes in 2019 to 157K tonnes in 2020. In value terms, imports soared to $437M. France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Belgium constitute the largest date importers in the EU, with a combined 82%-share of the European imports. Last year, the Netherlands featured the most rapid growth rate regarding the import volume in physical terms. In 2020, the date import price in the EU remained relatively unchanged compared to the figures of 2019.

Imports of Dates in the EU by Country

In 2020, approx. 157K tonnes of dates were imported in the EU; growing by +14% compared with 2019 figures. In value terms, date imports skyrocketed by +15.7% y-o-y to $437M (IndexBox estimates) in 2020.

In 2020, France (50K tonnes), distantly followed by Germany (29K tonnes), the Netherlands (17K tonnes), Italy (12K tonnes), Spain (12K tonnes) and Belgium (8K tonnes) represented the main importers of dates, together creating 82% of total imports. Denmark (5K tonnes) occupied a little share of total imports.

In 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the leading importing countries, was attained by the Netherlands, while imports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest date importing markets in the EU were France ($115M), Germany ($81M) and the Netherlands ($66M), with a combined 60% share of total imports.

In 2020, the date import price in the EU amounted to $2,791 per tonne, remaining constant against the previous year. In 2020, it increased by +1.3% y-o-y. Prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest price was the Netherlands ($3,796 per tonne), while France ($2,275 per tonne) was amongst the lowest. In 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Italy, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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Archives, Global Trade Daily, International Trade

Asia Takes the Lead For Recovery and Regional Growth For Global Trade

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As global trade rebounds, the economies from East Asian and Pacific countries are increasing at a faster pace than their Western counterparts. China is fully expected to be the leader of this rise.

While part of this is because China is the largest economy in the region, another perhaps lesser-known reason is the fact that China (as well as other East Asian nations such as Vietnam) has not suffered from lockdowns and economic restrictions due to Covid to the same degree that Western countries have. 

In this article, we’ll dive into the increase in trade during the first half of 2021 from Asia in comparison to their Western counterparts. We will also talk about whether China has a stronger grip on world trade than ever before due to the pandemic…or if the evidence alternatively suggests that China’s position as a trade leader may be nearing its peak instead.

A Return to Normal Trade Levels in Asia

Businesses based out of East Asian countries have good reason to be optimistic as global trade starts to return to pre-pandemic levels. It’s clear that Asian economies have not been hit to the same level as countries in the rest of the world have. 

According to research conducted by the East Asia Forum, the digital economy is projected to add over $1 trillion to the Asian economy over the next decade, the most of any region in the world. And it’s not just projections about the future that are favorable to Asia. The results already speak for themselves. 

For instance, total export volumes from East Asian countries for the first quarter of 2021 were actually up 15.4% more than what they were in the first quarter of 2019. Meanwhile, exports have collapsed amongst nations in other regions of the world. Europe has reported a 2.9% decline in exports when compared to two years ago, with an even sharper decline of 11.2% and 19.9% for Africa and the Middle East respectively. 

There are two significant reasons why East Asian economies have rebounded so quickly in comparison to the rest of the world. The first is because they have largely followed China’s lead. The World Bank has forecasted that China’s economy will expand by 8.1% by the end of this year, which has helped carry an increase of 4.4% for other closely-tied countries in the East Asian and Pacific region as a whole. 

Then there’s the fact that Asian nations, including China, did not have to endure lockdowns and economic restrictions to the same level that the United States or Europe did. In the summer of 2020, for instance, it was widely reported how a massive pool party was held in none other than Wuhan while Western countries remained under strict lockdowns that were tightly enforced. 

This year, Western countries like the United States continue to feel the negative effects of the imposed economic restrictions in the form of a lower participation rate in the labor force, severe non-labor shortages (such as in the form of lumber and semiconductors), higher inflation, and costlier prices for basic goods.

This naturally begs the question:

Has The West Truly Fallen Behind?

In Western countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, small businesses are perhaps the worst affected of all. Small businesses are responsible for a majority of private-sector employment and have also been the most severely hit. 

According to the Business Resiliency During Covid-19 study conducted by Freshbooks, 77% of surveyed business owners stated that they were either not confident or only somewhat confident in the state of their businesses. Among the reasons cited included a loss of income, reduced cash flow, and not having enough staff or resources to keep operations up and running.   

Of course, only time will tell if Western economies have truly fallen behind their Western counterparts. The United States has long been a leader in the global economy and even now remains the world’s largest economy when measured by nominal GDP…though China is now in a close second.

It’s also concerning that many businesses do not appear to have the appropriate financial security measures in place in the event of further financial or personal disaster. For example, in the same Business Resiliency survey, nearly a quarter of surveyed business owners indicated that they did not have any kind of an insurance policy in place.

Business owners who have taken out large business loans or a line of credit, for instance, would benefit strongly from a comprehensive insurance plan that covers most or all of the financial damages in the event of defaulting on the debt from a lack of incoming cash flow, or worse, in their death that would essentially transfer the liabilities to their family members. 

When you combine the fact that most business owners do not have an insurance policy as a cushion in place with the realities that many of those same owners have burnt through their emergency funds during the lockdown and that Covid relief packages from the Federal government are set to expire (or have already), it’s easy to see how the situation is a bit dire.

In the short term at least, it’s clear that the economies of East Asian countries, spearheaded by China, have emerged out of the pandemic more favorably than the countries of the West. 

But is China’s rise set to last? And if not, what does this mean for the rest of East Asia?

Has China’s Grip Over World Trade Peaked?

China has been the largest exporter of goods worldwide since 2009, and it became the world’s largest trading nation in 2013. Both of these positions had previously been held by the United States.

In other words, China as a trading leader on the world stage is nothing new, and this is also why the faster recovery of Asian economies versus Western countries should not be surprising. More than half of all e-commerce transactions in the world are now coming out of China, which likewise has borne well for the Asian market.

But there are many who believe that China is nearing the peak of its current economic capacity, and with it, perhaps the rest of Asia as well. A report last spring by UNCTAD (the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) argued that while China is almost certain to remain as the leading exporter in the world for the next few years, there are several inherent vulnerabilities that threaten to cut its rise a bit short.

Among the reasons cited for this include simmering geopolitical tensions that hinder social development, rising labor costs that could lead to production processes either being automated or transferred elsewhere, increased tariffs on Chinese exports from the U.S. and EU, and major companies pulling the production of their products out of China completely. 

As an example of the last mentioned reason, electronics conglomerate Samsung announced last year that they would cease manufacturing computers and phones in China in favor of other Asian countries like Vietnam and India. This decision was made in the face of both rising costs to manufacture in China and increasing international tensions. 

Each of the aforementioned factors means that China could become more dependent on domestic rather than international demand, and therefore stands to chip away at China’s competitiveness on the global scale if those factors don’t change. 

And the spread of the Delta variant has also spurred new lockdowns in China and other Asian countries, which means it’s almost certain that we will see new disruption to Asian supply chains, and particularly in regards to consumer goods and high tech equipment. 

In other words, even though East Asia may have taken the lead in economic recovery and trade growth for now, it’s still far from certain that this will last over the long term. 

Conclusion

Has the pandemic truly created a major economic realignment to global trade and the world order, or are the shifts we are seeing now temporary?

The evidence is clear that the economies of East Asian companies have recovered from the pandemic faster than the United States, Canada, or Europe. But those economies have also largely followed the lead set by China’s current dominance as a world trade leader, and vulnerabilities in China’s economy mean it’s easily possible the country’s grip over world trade could start to slip.

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Archives, Global Trade Daily, News

Indian Pimenta Pepper Exports Hit Record $1.1B

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘India – Pimenta Pepper – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

India remains the largest pimenta pepper exporter worldwide, comprising near half of the global exports. Last year, India managed to strengthen its leading position, with pimenta pepper exports skyrocketing to over 500K tonnes, or $1.1B. China was the key importer of Indian pepper, accounting for 32% of the total volume. The average export price for pimenta pepper from India jumped by +16% y-o-y in 2020.

Pimenta Pepper Exports from India

India ranks first among the world’s largest pimenta pepper exporters. Indian supplies abroad account for 51% of global pimenta pepper exports in physical terms.

In 2020, the amount of pimenta pepper exported from India expanded rapidly to 513K tonnes, increasing by +12% on the previous year. In value terms, pimenta pepper exports skyrocketed by +29.6% y-o-y to $1.1B (IndexBox estimates) in 2020.

China (163K tonnes) remains the main destination for pimenta pepper exports from India, with a 32% share of total exports. Moreover, pimenta pepper exports to China exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, Bangladesh (66K tonnes), twofold. The third position in this ranking was occupied by Thailand (54K tonnes), with a 10% share.

In 2020, the volume of supplies to China increased by +8.8% y-o-y. Thailand saw the most prominent growth rate in terms of volume of purchases from India in 2020.

In value terms, China ($387M) remains the key foreign market for pimenta pepper exports from India, comprising 35% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Thailand ($122M), with an 11% share of total exports. It was followed by Bangladesh, with a 9.5% share.

The average pimenta pepper export price stood at $2,147 per tonne in 2020, increasing by +16% against the previous year. There were significant differences in the average prices for the major export markets. In 2020, the country with the highest price was the U.S. ($2,671 per tonne), while the average price for exports to Bangladesh ($1,586 per tonne) was amongst the lowest. In 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Malaysia, while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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Archives, EU Trade, Global Trade Daily, News

European Unmanufactured Tobacco Imports Fall to the Lowest Level in a Decade

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘EU – Tobacco (Unmanufactured) – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

In 2020, European imports of unmanufactured tobacco fell by -7% y-o-y to 578K tonnes, reaching the lowest level over the past decade. Poland and Germany constitute the largest importers of unmanufactured tobacco in the EU, with a combined share of 48% of the total European import volume. Last year, Italy saw the most prominent drop in tobacco purchases from abroad, while Belgium ramped up its imports. The unmanufactured tobacco import price in Europe remained almost unchanged against the previous year. 


 

Unmanufactured Tobacco Imports in the EU

Unmanufactured tobacco imports in the EU shrank to 578K tonnes in 2020, dropping by -7% compared with the previous year. In value terms, unmanufactured tobacco imports declined from $3B to $2.8B (IndexBox estimates) in 2020.

Poland (143K tonnes) and Germany (136K tonnes) represented roughly 48% of total imports of tobacco (unmanufactured) in 2020. The Netherlands (49K tonnes) occupied the next position in the ranking, followed by France (46K tonnes), Belgium (32K tonnes), Italy (31K tonnes) and Romania (28K tonnes). All these countries together held near 32% share of total imports.

In 2020, the most notable decline in terms of purchases, amongst the key importing countries, was attained by Italy (-23% y-o-y). Among the largest European importers, Belgium (+34% y-o-y) became the only country increasing the volume of imported unmanufactured tobacco.

In value terms, Germany ($710M), Poland ($705M) and the Netherlands ($214M) were the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2020, with a combined 58% share of total imports. These countries were followed by Belgium, Romania, Italy and France, which together accounted for a further 22%.

The unmanufactured tobacco import price in the EU stood at $4,861 per tonne in 2020, remaining relatively unchanged against the previous year. There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2020, the country with the highest price was Romania ($5,973 per tonne), while France ($2,538 per tonne) was amongst the lowest. In 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Italy, while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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Global Plantain Imports Reduce but European and American Purchases Ramp Up

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Plantains – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

Global plantain imports continue a two-year downward trend, decreasing by -15.1% y-o-y to 958K tonnes in 2020. While El Salvador, the second-largest importer worldwide, reduces the purchases from abroad, American and European imports steadily grow. In physical terms, supplies to the U.S. jumped by +7.6% y-o-y to 406K tonnes. European imports increased by +1.2% y-o-y, reaching 274K tonnes last year. In 2020, the average plantain import price rose slightly by +1.8% y-o-y.

Global Plantain Imports by Country

For the third consecutive year, the global market recorded decline in overseas purchases of plantains, which decreased by -15.1% y-o-y to 958K tonnes in 2020. In value terms, plantain imports declined to $628M (IndexBox estimates) in 2020.

In value terms, the U.S. ($250M) constitutes the largest market for imported plantains worldwide, comprising 40% of global imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by the Netherlands ($52M), with an 8.3% share of global imports. It was followed by Spain, with a 6.2% share.

The U.S. was the major importing country with an import of about 406K tonnes, which resulted at 42% of total imports. El Salvador (76K tonnes) ranks second in terms of the total imports with a 7.9% share, followed by the UK (5.8%), Spain (5.3%), the Netherlands (5.1%) and Romania (4.5%). The following importers – Italy (39K tonnes), France (35K tonnes), North Macedonia (30K tonnes), Belgium (29K tonnes), Hungary (27K tonnes), Canada (26K tonnes) and Senegal (20K tonnes) – together made up 21% of total imports.

In physical terms, imports into the U.S. increased by +7.6% y-o-y in 2020. At the same time, Belgium (+76.9%), Spain (+68.8%), Italy (+47.6%), France (+30.6%), North Macedonia (+20.2%), Canada (+14.4%) and the UK (+7.3%) displayed positive paces of growth. Belgium emerged as the fastest-growing importer in 2020. By contrast, El Salvador (-1.4%), Romania (-8.0%), the Netherlands (-9.2%), Hungary (-10.9%) and Senegal (-44.0%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period.

European plantain imports grew by +1.2% y-o-y to 274K tonnes in 2020. In value terms, imports in the EU rose by +1.4% y-o-y, reaching $224M in 2020.

In 2020, the average plantain import price amounted to $655 per tonne, picking up by +1.8% against the previous year. Prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest price was the Netherlands, while El Salvador was amongst the lowest.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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Archives, Global Trade Daily, Imports/Exports

European Trade War Hits American Spirits Exports

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘U.S. – Spirits, Liqueurs And Other Spirituous Beverages – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

The establishment of duties on alcohol trade between the U.S. and the EU has led to a sharp drop in the export of American spirits. A further increase in the EU import duty on US whiskey may facilitate this decline. Alcohol imports from the EU to the American market also dropped, but this was compensated by increasing purchases from Mexico. The temporary suspension of duties on alcohol should help boost the U.S.-EU trade. The key trends in the American spirits and liquor market include the growing popularity of ready-to-drink beverages and the increasing demand for luxury spirits and alcohol, as well as beer and flavored malt beverages.

Key Trends and Insights

Exports in spirits from the U.S. dropped significantly from $2.1B in 2018 to $1.9B in 2020 due to a decrease in demand for American alcohol to Europe after the EU introduced customs duties on U.S. spirits. From 1997 to June 2018, there were no customs duties on alcohol between the U.S. and the EU. In June 2018, the EU set a 25% import duty on American whiskey, and in 2020 it was expanded to include rum, brandy, vodka and vermouth from America.

Establishing duties led to a 53% drop in the supply of American whiskey in the UK and a 38% drop in the EU, compared to 2018 levels. Exports of American whiskey in 2020 were $845M, down 28.9% from 2018 levels. European countries account for 52% of total US whiskey exports.

A further decline in whiskey exports from the U.S. is forecasted for the coming years as a result of higher European trade tariffs. In June 2021, the EU raised the import duty on American whiskey from 25% to 50%. It’s expected that the total volume of shipments of American alcohol abroad will continue to fall, as in monetary terms, the share of shipments of whiskey accounts for about 44% of total exports of spirits from the U.S.

The import of spirits from the EU to the U.S. dropped significantly after the U.S. established retaliatory trade duties. In 2019, the U.S. imposed a 25% import duty on single malt Scotch whiskey from the EU, single malt Irish whiskey from Northern Ireland, as well as liqueurs from Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. As a result, imports of Scotch whiskey into the U.S. fell by 37% y-o-y in 2020, while shipments of liqueurs and cordials fell by 40% y-o-y. In 2021, cognac from the EU and other grape-based brandies from France and Germany were added to this list.

Despite the decline in EU supplies, total American alcohol imports rose thanks to a 17% y-o-y increase in purchases from Mexico. The total volume of alcohol imports in the U.S. increased from 824K tonnes in 2019 to 938K tonnes in 2020.

In March 2021, the U.S. and the EU agreed to a 4-month reciprocal suspension of trade tariffs on alcohol and spirits, excluding American whiskey, which should bolster trade between the two.

Among trends in the American market for spirits this year, the rapidly growing popularity of ready-to-drink beverages (often called RTD), an increase in the demand for beer, flavored malt beverages and high-end alcohol stand out. A rise in the number of direct-to-consumer shipments from in-state distilleries, aided by the development of e-commerce and new laws permitting such trade can also be observed.

Spirits and Liqueur Production in the U.S.

Spirits and liqueurs production in the U.S. rose to 1.9M tonnes in 2020, surging by 4.8% against the year before. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.5% over the period from 2018 to 2020.

In value terms, spirits and liqueurs production expanded modestly to $14.4B in 2020. The total output value increased at an average annual rate of +4.5% from 2018 to 2020.

Spirits and Liqueur Exports from the U.S.

After two years of growth, shipments abroad of spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages decreased by -10.3% to 272K tonnes in 2020. In value terms, spirits and liqueurs exports contracted modestly to $1.9B (IndexBox estimates) in 2020.

Panama (53K tonnes) was the main destination for spirits and liqueurs exports from the U.S., with a 19% share of total exports. Moreover, spirits and liqueurs exports to Panama exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, Australia (26K tonnes), twofold. Spain (25K tonnes) ranked third in terms of total exports with a 9.2% share.

In value terms, the largest markets for spirits and liqueurs exported from the U.S. were Panama ($361M), Canada ($325M) and the Netherlands ($169M), with a combined 44% share of total exports.

The average spirits and liqueurs export price stood at $7,102 per tonne in 2020, with an increase of 7.4% against the previous year. In 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Panama, while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Spirits and Liqueur Imports into the U.S.

Spirits and liqueurs imports into the U.S. expanded significantly to 938K tonnes in 2020, growing by 14% against the year before. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +12.5% from 2018 to 2020.

In value terms, spirits and liqueurs imports expanded sharply to $8.9B (IndexBox estimates) in 2020. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +10.4% from 2018 to 2020.

Mexico (208K tonnes), Canada (158K tonnes) and France (115K tonnes) were the main suppliers of spirits and liqueurs imports to the U.S., together comprising 51% of total imports. These countries were followed by the UK, the Netherlands, Latvia, Ireland, Sweden, Poland and Italy, which together accounted for a further 38%.

In value terms, the largest spirits and liqueurs suppliers to the U.S. were Mexico ($2.7B), France ($2.5B) and the UK ($1.4B), together comprising 75% of total imports. Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, Latvia, Italy and Poland lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 21%.

The average spirits and liqueurs import price stood at $9,492 per tonne in 2020, waning by -2.6% against the previous year. In 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Mexico, while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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Archives, Global Trade Daily, News

American Imports of Aluminium Plates, Sheets and Strips Drop to $2.5B

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘U.S. Aluminum Sheet, Plate, And Foil Market. Analysis And Forecast to 2025’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

In 2020, American imports of aluminium plates, sheets and strips slumped to 836K tonnes, reducing by -35.6% y-o-y. In value terms, they shrank from $4.2B to $2.5B over the last year. Canada, China and Saudi Arabia remain the largest suppliers of aluminium plates, sheets and strips to the U.S. In 2020, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Canada managed to boost shipments to the American market, while other exporting countries experienced significant drops in supplies. The average import price for aluminium plates, sheets and strips in the U.S. decreased by -6% y-o-y to near $3,000 per tonne.


 

American Imports of Aluminium Plates, Sheets and Strips

In 2020, the amount of aluminium plates, sheets and strips of a thickness exceeding 0.2 mm imported into the U.S. shrank markedly to 836K tonnes, dropping by -35.6% compared with the previous year. In value terms, imports of aluminium plates, sheets and strips dropped remarkably from $4.2B to $2.5B (IndexBox estimates) in 2020.

Canada (131K tonnes), China (113K tonnes) and Saudi Arabia (93K tonnes) were the main suppliers of imports of aluminium plates, sheets and strips to the U.S., together comprising 40% of total imports. Oman, Germany, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, South Korea, Austria, Taiwan (Chinese), the UK and Spain lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 38%.

In 2020, amongst the key exporters, Thailand (+47% y-o-y), Saudi Arabia (+9.8% y-o-y), and Canada (+2.1% y-o-y) featured the most notable growth rate of supplies to the U.S. in physical terms, while imports from other countries went down.

In value terms, the largest aluminium plates, sheets and strips suppliers to the U.S. were Canada ($387M), China ($325M) and Saudi Arabia ($255M), with a combined 38% share of total imports. Germany, Oman, Austria, South Africa, Thailand, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, Taiwan (Chinese) and Spain lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 38%.

In 2020, the average import price for aluminium plates, sheets and strips amounted to $3,009 per tonne, falling by -6% against the previous year. Prices varied noticeably by the country of origin; the country with the highest price was Austria ($4,416 per tonne), while the price for Oman ($2,437 per tonne) was amongst the lowest. In 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Thailand, while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced mixed trend patterns.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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Global Polyurethane Exports Slump to $6.3B

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Polyurethanes In Primary Forms – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

Global exports of polyurethanes in primary forms dropped from $7B in 2019 to $6.3B in 2020. Germany, China, Italy and the U.S. constitute the largest polyurethane exporters worldwide, providing more than half of the total shipments. In 2020, all the key supplying countries experienced a reduction in polyurethane exports. The average polyurethane export price fell by -2.3% against the previous year. China, Viet Nam and Germany remain the leading importers of polyurethane in primary forms.


 

Global Polyurethane Exports

Global polyurethane exports contracted to 1.7M tonnes in 2020, dropping by -8.3% compared with 2019. In value terms, polyurethane exports declined to $6.3B (IndexBox estimates) in 2020.

The biggest shipments were from Germany (351K tonnes), China (239K tonnes), Italy (178K tonnes) and the U.S. (168K tonnes), together accounting for 54% of total export. Taiwan (Chinese) (94K tonnes) ranks next in terms of the total exports with a 5.4% share, followed by the Netherlands (4.7%). South Korea (78K tonnes), Belgium (60K tonnes), Spain (58K tonnes), France (58K tonnes), Singapore (37K tonnes), the UK (32K tonnes) and Japan (32K tonnes) held a little share of total exports. Last year, all the key exporting countries experienced a reduction in polyurethane sales.

In value terms, the largest polyurethanes supplying countries worldwide were Germany ($1.4B), the U.S. ($725M) and Italy ($544M), with a combined 43% share of global exports. These countries were followed by China, Taiwan (Chinese), the Netherlands, South Korea, Belgium, Japan, Spain, France, Singapore and the UK, which together accounted for a further 42%.

In 2020, the average polyurethane export price amounted to $3,643 per tonne, reducing by -2.3% against the previous year. Prices varied noticeably by the country of origin; the country with the highest price was Japan ($7,245 per tonne), while China ($2,208 per tonne) was amongst the lowest. In 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Singapore, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

World’s Leading Polyurethane Importers

In value terms, the largest polyurethanes importing markets worldwide were China ($716M), Viet Nam ($489M) and Germany ($397M), together accounting for 28% of global imports.

China (162K tonnes), Viet Nam (128K tonnes), India (117K tonnes), Germany (106K tonnes), Italy (84K tonnes), the U.S. (63K tonnes), France (58K tonnes), Thailand (43K tonnes), Indonesia (43K tonnes), the UK (40K tonnes), Poland (40K tonnes) and Turkey (39K tonnes) represented roughly 60% of total imports of polyurethanes in primary forms in 2020. Canada (38K tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Source: IndexBox Platform

breakbulk americas
Archives, Executive Education, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Ocean Ports

BREAKBULK IS BACK: AFTER PANDEMIC HICCUP, BREAKBULK AMERICAS RETURNS TO HOUSTON

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After missing 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Breakbulk Americas is returning in September.

“This event from September 28 to 30 is all about getting together as an industry after a very long two-year break,” says Leslie Meredith, Marketing and Media Director for the event. “Breakbulk Americas is the first Breakbulk event to return to the market post-pandemic. We are working very closely with the City of Houston and the George R. Brown Convention Center to make sure that this is a safe experience for all.”

You might say Breakbulk Americas has gotten a shot in the arm.

“Fortunately, the vaccine rollout has been very efficient and Americans are able to move around with a great deal of freedom, which bodes well for the event this fall,” Meredith says.


 

Safety for all involved is paramount for event organizers, Hyve Group. In January, Visit Houston, the city’s entity that governs events and tourism, outlined its exceptional safety measures that will be in place for the event along with other improvements to support the region’s top event for the project cargo and breakbulk industry.

John Solis, senior vice president of Sales & Client Services at the George R. Brown Convention Center (a.k.a. GRB Center), said in a communiqué to Breakbulk, the convention center has made significant enhancements to its facility. The GRB Center is the first convention center in the world to deploy the Integrated Viral Protection (IVP) system, which deploys biodefense filtration technology proven to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 (99.999%) and other airborne contaminants. 

In addition, a new virtual studio inside the GRB Center will provide flexibility to maximize opportunities for hybrid experiences. This feature will allow Breakbulk to host remote expert speakers should that be necessary due to travel or budgetary considerations, along with its in-person industry panelists. 

A third enhancement will be permanent thermal scanning stations located at all entry points that can process up to 100 guests per minute, ensuring no delays to access the exhibition floor.

The new features complement Hyve’s own safe and secure program that is applied to all Hyve events.

At the last Breakbulk Americas convention in 2019, more than 4,800 attended, which has made Breakbulk Americas the region’s largest and most influential event across Canada, the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean for all those involved in the project cargo and breakbulk community.

Meredith said organizers have “some exciting plans for Breakbulk Americas to fuel networking for new business opportunities, which has never been more important. The traditional welcome reception held Tuesday evening at the GRB Center will embrace the spirit of Texas as thousands gather for the Reunion at the Breakbulk Saloon. The entire exhibition floor will be decked out Western-style with ‘watering holes’ (themed bars) throughout the hall.”

Leading up to the reunion will be an exclusive Executive Summit for C-level exhibitors and shippers to tackle post-COVID recovery together. On a lighter note, all attendees are invited to participate in the 2021 Maritime Workers Emergency Medical Fund Golf Tournament at the Hermann Park Golf Course in Houston.

The first full day of the exhibition and conference begins on Wednesday, Sept. 29, continuing through Thursday afternoon, Sept. 30. On the main stage, industry leaders will present a wide range of insights on the evolving impact of COVID on business and projects, President Biden’s infrastructure plan, U.S. offshore wind project opportunities, the carrier sector, women in breakbulk on tackling the imposter syndrome and the effects, both long term and short term, of the greening of the oil and gas supply chain.

Meredith said that “an integral part of Breakbulk Americas is contributing to the next generation of transport and logistics professionals, which we do through the Jerry Nagel Education Day and guided tours of the exhibition floor. With strong ties to Texas universities and beyond, Breakbulk typically hosts around 200 students and their instructors at this introduction to the industry and to its leaders. Education Day will be held on Thursday.”

(Agenda: https://americas.breakbulk.com/business-programme.)

Breakbulk Americas attracts new exhibitors annually, but there are many who make it a “must” event, like the Port of Baltimore.

“Breakbulk cargo is a very important subject matter for the Port of Baltimore and Breakbulk Americas is a must-attend conference,” says William Doyle, executive director of the Maryland Port Administration. “Last year, Baltimore handled more than 173,000 tons of breakbulk cargo, which was a 23% jump over 2019 and so far this year we are up 4% over last year.”

Doyle continued: “We regularly handle power and heat steam recovery generation machinery, wind turbine equipment, transformers and other energy production equipment. We also serve as a major gateway for breakbulk premium fresh fiber paperboards, including folding boxboards, food service boards and white kraftliners, especially since the e-commerce boom.” 

He noted that his facility’s “excellent geographic location to states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio allows Baltimore to be an ideal port for handling breakbulk cargo destined to those states. Baltimore also has two, heavy-lift cranes and direct-to-rail capabilities. The Breakbulk Americas conference allows us to meet and connect with our current breakbulk customers and seek out opportunities with prospective customers. We will have our breakbulk sales representative Rick Pagley at the event.”

For Barnhart Crane and Rigging in Fairhope, Alabama, “there is really no greater opportunity to connect and network with those involved in the heavy transport and project cargo industry than Breakbulk Americas,” says Chris Teague, Barhart’s director of Marketing. “Barnhart has been committed to this event for years because it has always borne fruit. As a national company with 50 locations across the U.S., Breakbulk is the one event for which our sales team can gather and engage with customers, vendors and key influencers within the industry. Year-after-year, all Breakbulk Americas attendees and exhibitors can always be guaranteed to interact with the (pun intended) movers and shakers in the industry.” 

Ken Carey, manager, Business Development, with the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp., says “Highway H2O has been attending this event for many years. We find the quality of the event, the attendees and the other exhibitors to be world-class.”

Carey adds that, “Given the bi-national scope of the Seaway-Great Lakes transportation system, we also enjoy the opportunity to meet new contacts and expand on relationships we have developed over the years.”

Convention exhibitor Port Tampa Bay looks at Breakbulk Americas as key to its business, according to Wade Elliott, the port’s vice president of Business Development. 

“We are Florida’s largest port for steel cargo and have been receiving increasing volumes of breakbulk lumber, thanks to a new service which was launched last year,” Elliott says. “Breakbulk Americas provides a great networking forum for us to meet with the carriers, importers and exporters and coordinate plans to serve our growing market, in particular the Tampa/Orlando I-4 Corridor, Florida’s distribution hub.”

Annual Breakbulk Americas attendee Wolfe House Movers/Buckingham Heavy Transport has between two and four company members at the event, says Anna Brovont, the Bernville, Pennsylvania, company’s marketing administrator.

“As a heavy haul transporter, we have found that Breakbulk Americas has been integral to our business in bringing us an opportunity to discuss their interests with our clients, expand our networks and stay abreast of developments within the industry,” she says. “We do some business but use Breakbulk Americas primarily to touch base with clients.”