US PET Recycling Faces Severe Crisis Amid Surge in Low-Priced Imports
The US PET recycling industry has lost nearly 25% of its capacity due to a 2,000% increase in low-priced imports over 15 months. Urgent actions are needed to address this market distortion, which threatens domestic jobs and recycling infrastructure.
Theia Market Signal Identification - AI AssistedThe US plastics recycling sector has experienced a drastic reduction in capacity, with seven facilities closing in the past 15 months, representing a 25% loss. The surge in low-priced PET imports from Asia, particularly from countries like India, Indonesia, and Thailand, has been identified as a primary factor, increasing imports by over 2,000% while prices fell by more than 60%.
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) has urged the USTR to implement measures under Section 301(b) to address this issue, specifically excluding imports from Canada and Mexico. The American Chemistry Council has also highlighted the threat posed by excess capacity driven by unfair trading practices, which undermines US chemical production and jobs. Without intervention, further job losses and plant closures are anticipated, jeopardizing the domestic recycling landscape.
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