Brazil. Brazil's trade deficit in plastic resins and raw materials increased in the first eight months of 2013 to US$615 million, compared to US$6.7 million in the same period last year, according to the Association of Plastics Industry - Abiplast.
According to the association, polyolefin producers outside Brazil, especially in the U.S., used their lower production costs to increase their share of a fast-growing market.
Imports into Brazil rose 23.6% to $1.85 billion to $1.5 billion, while Brazilian exports fell 17.2 percent to $1.24 billion to $1.49 billion in the same period last year.
Imports of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) increased 33.4%. Exports fell 14.5%. The largest exporter of LDPE to Brazil was the United States.
Imports of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), of which 45% came from the United States, increased by 22.8%, while imports of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), of which 46% originated in the US, increased 23.2%.
Imports of polypropylene (PP) increased by 19.5%, while imports of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) increased by 16.8%. Imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) grew by 31.7%. All to the U.S.
Figures for August, when the Brazilian real depreciated against the dollar, were more positive: the trade deficit in plastic resins and other raw materials fell 34.4% to $54.3 million from $82.8 million.
