China Plastics Makers Risk Closures as Tariffs Hit Feedstock Imports

Plastics manufacturers in China are facing some tough times ahead due to their dependence on imports of U.S. feedstock. These imports are already running at record highs. This year, they were expected to surge by 20%, but then Trump started his tariff offensive. And there are no suppliers of this feedstock that compare in terms of production size with the United States. Ethane is a component of natural gas. Its production in the U.S. took off with the shale gas boom and is still booming thanks to the relentless growth in petrochemical demand on…