Polyethylene scrap trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in polyethylene scrap was worth $1.13 billion in 2024, about 2.93 million tonnes. That is a fall of 33% since 2017, and down 8% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1.13B | 2.93M t |
| 2023 | $1.22B | 3.06M t |
| 2022 | $1.55B | 3.09M t |
| 2021 | $1.34B | 3.05M t |
| 2020 | $894.0M | 2.89M t |
| 2019 | $1.04B | 2.83M t |
| 2018 | $1.13B | 3.09M t |
| 2017 | $1.67B | 4.48M t |
Top polyethylene scrap exporting countries
Exports are led by Germany (14%), the United States (11%) and the Netherlands (11%). 133 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 36%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $158.3M | 14% |
| United States | $123.1M | 11% |
| Netherlands | $122.5M | 11% |
| United Kingdom | $83.3M | 7.4% |
| Belgium | $66.3M | 5.9% |
| France | $61.4M | 5.4% |
| Philippines | $45.3M | 4% |
| Japan | $41.9M | 3.7% |
| Italy | $30.7M | 2.7% |
| Spain | $30.6M | 2.7% |
| Canada | $29.2M | 2.6% |
| Poland | $25.2M | 2.2% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
Vietnam is the biggest buyer with 11% of world imports, ahead of Malaysia and Turkey. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 31% across 130 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | $122.5M | 11% |
| Malaysia | $114.2M | 10% |
| Turkey | $108.2M | 9.6% |
| Indonesia | $90.5M | 8% |
| Germany | $89.8M | 8% |
| Netherlands | $73.3M | 6.5% |
| Belgium | $56.8M | 5% |
| China | $42.1M | 3.7% |
| Spain | $42.0M | 3.7% |
| United States | $40.1M | 3.6% |
| Italy | $36.1M | 3.2% |
| India | $26.7M | 2.4% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $0.39 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, the Philippines averaged $0.91 per kg and France $0.29 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Related product types
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
The shipment records behind Polyethylene scrap (HS 3915.10) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 3915.10: Ethylene polymers: waste, parings and scrap. HS 3915 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most polyethylene scrap?
Germany exported $158.3 million in 2024, 14% of the world total, followed by the United States (11%) and the Netherlands (11%). In all, 133 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most polyethylene scrap?
Vietnam imported $122.5 million in 2024, 11% of world imports, ahead of Malaysia (10%) and Turkey (10%). The top three importers together take 31%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in polyethylene scrap?
It was worth $1.13 billion in 2024, about 2.93 million tonnes. That is a fall of 33% since 2017. The peak year was 2017 at $1.67 billion. 133 countries reported exports and 130 reported imports.
What is the average price of polyethylene scrap per kg?
The world average declared value was about $0.39 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, the Philippines averaged $0.91 per kg and France $0.29 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for polyethylene scrap?
The HS code for polyethylene scrap is subheading 3915.10, in chapter 39 (plastics and articles thereof). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 3915 page.
How can I find polyethylene scrap buyers and suppliers?
Company names sit below these country totals: EximDataX reads the customs records shipment by shipment, with dates and values. We can show polyethylene scrap buyers and suppliers on a short call.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
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