SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The latest U.S. Census Bureau data suggests substantial decline in exports of scrap plastic by the country during the initial six-month period this year. This is when compared with the corresponding period a year before. The imports of the material by the country too registered decline year-on-year.

The U.S. exports of plastic waste and scrap recorded year-on-year decline by approximately 32%. The exports were valued at $101.57 million through June this year, as compared with $149.82 million during the period from January to June in 2019.

ALSO READ:

Pilot Program in Nigeria to Boost Plastic Scrap Recycling

AMI Forecast: Plastic Recycling to Double in the Next Decade

The top destination of exports was Canada. The exports to that country recorded modest decline by over 21% over the previous year to total $26.73 million. Canada accounted for just over 26% of all shipments of scrap plastic by the U.S until June this year. The second largest importer was Malaysia, whose imports totalled $12.15 million. In third place was Hong Kong with $9.33 million worth of imports from the U.S. The other key foreign markets were Mexico ($7.97 million) and Vietnam ($5.31 million). The above five top importers together accounted for nearly 61% of the total shipments of plastic scrap by the U.S. from January to June this year.

The U.S. imports of plastic waste, scrap decreased 11.0% through June 2020 to $102.56 million. The top sources of import were Mexico ($35.80 million), Canada ($20.85 million), Japan ($5.50 million), Indonesia ($5.49 million) and Honduras ($5.11 million).