Orthoxylene exports from the US totaled 7,475 mt in January, with Mexico importing the lion's share, the latest US International Trade Commission data showed this week.
The monthly export total fell 20,529 mt, or 73%, from December, but rose 1,872 mt, or 33%, year on year.
Latin America took 5,306 mt, or 71%, of the total US OX exports, with Mexico emerging as the single destination of the US orthoxylene exports to the Latin American pool. Exports to Latin America in January decreased 20,474 mt from December, the ITC data showed.
Non-Latin American destinations imported 2,168 mt, accounting for 29% of the US OX exports in January. The Netherlands was the leading recipient of US OX exports after Mexico, taking 1,970 mt, or 26.4%, according to the ITC data.
January OX imports into the US totaled 3,210 mt, up 473 mt, or 17%, from December. Imports from Canada stood at 1,846 mt, or 58%. The remaining 1,364 mt came from Iraq, accounting for 42% of the total pool of imports into the US in January, according to the USITC.
Derivative US phthalic anhydride imports stood at 3,124 mt in January, down 1,856 mt, or 37%, from December, the USITC data showed. Mexico led the list of PA importers into the US, accounting for 38.5% of the total PA imports at 1,204 mt.
Mexico, Italy, Israel, South Korea and Russia remained the top five importers in the US PA market in January. Mexico was followed by Italy, who imported 1,184 mt or 38%, Israel with 290 mt or 9.3%, South Korea with 204 mt or 6.5%, Russia with 129 mt or 4.1%, India with 72 mt or 2.3% and Brazil with 40 mt or 1.3%. Brazil-origin PA is emerging as a major player in the US PA imports, the data showed.
Italy, Mexico, South Korea, Israel and Russia continued to be the top five importers in the US PA market in 2018.
