Market Information

The eighth petrochemical market in the world and the largest in Latin America, Brazil also appears among the 15 biggest manufacturers of machinery for the sector. From January to September, 2008 total exports of processed plastic products were US$1.055 billion, corresponding to 259 million tons, at an average price of US$ 4.073/ton. In comparison with 2007, there was an increase of 19, 3% in value or of 3,9% in weight.

According to ABIPLAST, by economic blocks, external sales were concentrated in Mercosur (34%), followed by the rest of the countries of Aladi (25%) and the European Union (13%). The principal markets were Argentina (27%), the United States (13%), Chile (7%), Venezuela (5%) and Holland (5%). The most exported processed products were "BOPP films'', “other stratified plastic laminates" and "non reinforced laminates of ethylene polymers".

Total imports in the same period were US$ 1.777 billion, corresponding to 357,000 tons, with an average price of US$ 4.975/ton. In comparison with the previous year, there was an increase of 35.5% in value and an increase of 20.9% in weight. Imports originated in the European Union (32%), followed by Asia "excluding the Middle East" (26%) and Mercosur (16%) and the principal markets were the United States (19%), China (13%), Argentina (11%), Germany (10%) and Italy (6%). The most imported processed products were  " bottles, flasks and similar articles such as “self adhesive laminates” and "BOPP films".