p-Xylene Trade Analysis 2015-2024 (Full Report)
This report offers clients a comprehensive analysis of the global and regional trade of para-Xylene. para-xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon primarily used as a feedstock to produce PTA and DMT, which are key intermediates in manufacturing PET for polyester fibers, plastic bottles, and films. The analysis in this report is based exclusively on statistical data and covers the period from 2015 to 2024.
The raw statistical data has been systematically transformed into clear and reliable insights, encompassing the net trade balance, trade flows, transaction prices, means of transportation, and transportation cost analyses. Furthermore, key transit hubs have been identified and highlighted under the trade flow analysis section. Given the consistency of data across years, trade flow and transportation analyses are limited to 2024 to best represent current conditions and reduce analytical complexity. However, the transportation cost analysis may incorporate up to five years of data if a single year does not provide adequate information.
The transformed trade data is provided separately in accompanying MS Excel file.
Global para-xylene trade over 2015–2024 was shaped by sustained and often rising net exports from the Middle East and Southeast Asia. At the same time, large and initially expanding net import positions in Northeast Asia and North America, along with growing deficits in South America and a later-stage deficit in the Indian Subcontinent, defined the main demand centers. Western Europe’s move from surplus to a near-balanced but still import-oriented position.
Northeast Asia dominated global para-xylene exports in 2024, with especially large flows within the region and to China. The Middle East and Southeast Asia were also major exporters, each with distinct patterns: the Middle East exported most to India, Pakistan, North America, and Europe, while Southeast Asia shipped large volumes to China and within its own region. North American exports primarily served intra-regional demand.
In 2024, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia and the United States acted as the transit hubs, while Japan, South Korea, India, Vietnam, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia functioned as origins. China and Mexico appeared as destinations.
para-xylene prices across the dataset moved within a broad range from 427 USD per metric ton in 2020 to 1,175 USD per metric ton in 2022, with declines from 2015 levels into 2020, a recovery and higher points around 2021–2022, followed by easing in 2023 and partial stabilization in 2024.
Globally, sea transport overwhelmingly dominated the movement of para-xylene across all regions. Railway and road transport contributed smaller shares, with railway transport present mainly in Western Europe and Central & Eastern Europe, and road transport holding a notable share only in Western Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
The global transportation cost analysis for para-xylene during 2020-2024 showed a weighted average cost of 58 USD per metric ton. The average cost was based on weighted average CIF-FOB price differences, which reflects the costs of freight, insurance, port handling, and other ancillary fees associated with bilateral trades between exporting and importing countries. Some data points may have been unavailable or excluded as outliers during the data cleaning process.
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