China's Q1 POE imports fall yet exports surge

China's POE imports contracted sharply while exports doubled in Q1, reflecting accelerating domestic substitution and the rise of Chinese POE in global markets, amid capacity expansion, price advantage and improving product quality.

China's polyolefin elastomer (POE) market saw a major structural shift in the first quarter of 2026, with imports shrinking sharply while exports more than doubled, signaling accelerating domestic substitution and the rise of Chinese POE in global markets. China Mar POE Imports by Origin, 2025-2026 (Unit: '000 tonnes) Source: OilChem China's POE