China's Apr ethane imports surge over 170% on cost edge, robust demand

China's ethane imports presented an explosive growth in April, as the geopolitical tensions intensified cost advantage of U.S. ethane over traditional feedstocks, and the rapid expansion of domestic ethane cracking capacity fueled the demand for ethane.

China expanded ethane imports further in April, as conflicts disrupted traditional petrochemical feedstocks from the Middle East, while enhanced cost advantage of U.S.-sourced ethane over naphtha and LPG. Moreover, domestic ethane cracking capacity has been in a fast growth. The country imported 1.14 million tonnes of liquefied ethane in April,