China is becoming much more self-sufficient in another wave of chemicals and polymers.
Self-sufficiency was earlier achieved in polyester fibres, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle and film grade, purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and phenol.
China has switched from being the world’s biggest importer of these products to being an exporter, and in the case of polyester fibres and PET resins, the world’s biggest exporter.
The latest products affected by the self-sufficiency push include polypropylene (PP) and styrene monomer (SM).