High-density polyethylene exports from the United States: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of high-density polyethylene by the United States reached $5.02 billion in 2024 (4.44 million tonnes). It ranks 1st of 139 countries for exports of this product. That is 7% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 10% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5.02B | 4.44M t |
| 2023 | $4.70B | 4.09M t |
| 2022 | $4.80B | 3.16M t |
| 2021 | $4.33B | 2.80M t |
| 2020 | $3.62B | 3.88M t |
| 2019 | $3.81B | 3.41M t |
| 2018 | $3.35B | 2.44M t |
| 2017 | $2.56B | 2.00M t |
Where the United States exports high-density polyethylene to
The largest buyer markets were Mexico (18%), China (16%), Canada (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 45%. Among the main buyer markets, Belgium grew fastest (+77% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $911.0M | 18% |
| China | $798.9M | 16% |
| Canada | $540.0M | 11% |
| Brazil | $531.4M | 11% |
| Belgium | $219.5M | 4.4% |
| Colombia | $168.6M | 3.4% |
| Turkey | $122.4M | 2.4% |
| Peru | $122.0M | 2.4% |
| United Kingdom | $104.0M | 2.1% |
| Spain | $83.0M | 1.7% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.13 per kg, close to the world average of $1.13.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
High-density polyethylene imports to the United States
Imports of high-density polyethylene by the United States reached $1.47 billion in 2024 (1.37 million tonnes). That makes it the 2nd largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 202 countries. One supplier dominates: Canada accounted for 84% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $1.23B | 84% |
| Mexico | $127.7M | 8.7% |
| South Korea | $28.2M | 1.9% |
| Sweden | $16.4M | 1.1% |
| Germany | $10.1M | 0.7% |
| Brazil | $8.9M | 0.6% |
| Japan | $6.3M | 0.4% |
| Australia | $4.8M | 0.3% |
| Finland | $4.8M | 0.3% |
| Honduras | $4.4M | 0.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States high-density polyethylene exports (HS 3901.20): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
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 3901.20: Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more.
Common questions
What is the value of high-density polyethylene exported by the United States?
The United States exported high-density polyethylene worth $5.02 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 4.44 million tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 139 countries worldwide, with 17% of world exports. The value was up 7% on 2023.
Which countries buy high-density polyethylene from the United States?
Mexico was the largest buyer with 18% of the value ($911.0 million), followed by China (16%) and Canada (11%). The top three together account for 45%, out of 151 buyer countries in total. Belgium grew fastest among the top ten, up 77% on the year.
What is the average export price of high-density polyethylene per kg?
The average declared export value was about $1.13 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $1.13 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have exports of high-density polyethylene from the United States changed since 2017?
Exports went from $2.56 billion in 2017 to $5.02 billion in 2024, an increase of 97%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $4.02 billion a year.
Does the United States also import high-density polyethylene?
Yes. The United States imported $1.47 billion worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Canada, Mexico and South Korea. On balance the United States is a net exporter of this product, by about $3.56 billion a year.
What is the HS code for high-density polyethylene?
The HS code for high-density polyethylene is subheading 3901.20. It sits in HS chapter 39 (plastics and articles thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3901 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United States, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
World high-density polyethylene trade: top importers and exporters
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