Low-density polyethylene exports from the United States: data, top buyers and prices
The United States exported $4.48 billion of low-density polyethylene in 2024 (3.76 million tonnes). That makes it the largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 142 countries. That is close to the 2023 level. 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 | $4.48B | 3.76M t |
| 2023 | $4.46B | 3.72M t |
| 2022 | $4.99B | 3.30M t |
| 2021 | $4.26B | 2.74M t |
| 2020 | $2.99B | 2.90M t |
| 2019 | $3.09B | 2.74M t |
| 2018 | $2.72B | 1.95M t |
| 2017 | $2.32B | 1.62M t |
Where the United States exports low-density polyethylene to
The largest buyer markets were Mexico (15%), China (14%), Brazil (9%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 37%. Among the main buyer markets, Brazil grew fastest (+33% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $654.9M | 15% |
| China | $615.9M | 14% |
| Brazil | $404.0M | 9% |
| Canada | $365.9M | 8.2% |
| Turkey | $315.4M | 7% |
| India | $127.4M | 2.8% |
| Colombia | $106.5M | 2.4% |
| Belgium | $104.8M | 2.3% |
| Malaysia | $95.1M | 2.1% |
| Guatemala | $89.5M | 2% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.19 per kg, close to the world average of $1.26.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Low-density polyethylene imports to the United States
In 2024, the United States imported low-density polyethylene worth $709.2 million (658.6 thousand tonnes). It ranks 9th of 205 countries for imports of this product. Canada alone supplied 74% of it. Among the main suppliers, South Korea grew fastest (+46% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $523.2M | 74% |
| Mexico | $40.9M | 5.8% |
| South Korea | $26.8M | 3.8% |
| Sweden | $25.6M | 3.6% |
| Brazil | $12.3M | 1.7% |
| Netherlands | $12.2M | 1.7% |
| Japan | $12.0M | 1.7% |
| Germany | $9.1M | 1.3% |
| Finland | $6.7M | 0.9% |
| Israel | $6.0M | 0.9% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States low-density polyethylene exports (HS 3901.10): 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 3901.10: Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of less than 0.94.
Common questions
What is the value of low-density polyethylene exported by the United States?
The United States exported low-density polyethylene worth $4.48 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 3.76 million tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 142 countries worldwide, with 17% of world exports. The value was up 1% on 2023.
Which countries buy low-density polyethylene from the United States?
Mexico was the largest buyer with 15% of the value ($654.9 million), followed by China (14%) and Brazil (9%). The top three together account for 37%, out of 146 buyer countries in total. Brazil grew fastest among the top ten, up 33% on the year.
What is the average export price of low-density polyethylene per kg?
The average declared export value was about $1.19 per kg in 2024, 6% below the world average of $1.26 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of low-density polyethylene from the United States changed since 2017?
Exports went from $2.32 billion in 2017 to $4.48 billion in 2024, an increase of 93%. The peak was 2022 at $4.99 billion. Over 8 years the average was $3.66 billion a year.
Does the United States also import low-density polyethylene?
Yes. The United States imported $709.2 million 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 $3.77 billion a year.
What is the HS code for low-density polyethylene?
The HS code for low-density polyethylene is subheading 3901.10. 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?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for the United States. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
World low-density polyethylene trade: top importers and exporters
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