WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) Chief Economist, Dr. Perc Pineda, has released a new economic analysis examining first-quarter 2026 trade trends for recyclable plastics materials. The analysis explores how shifting market dynamics have reshaped global trade flows over the past decade and highlights the continued importance of North American trading partners, even as overall U.S. trade volumes in recyclable plastics materials moderated.
Dr. Pineda writes, “U.S. exports of recyclable plastics materials decreased significantly, falling at a 15.0% CAGR between 2016 and 2025. Meanwhile, U.S. exports of recyclable plastics materials to its USMCA partners increased modestly, rising at a 0.7% CAGR over the same period. Taken together, these trends could suggest that the U.S. continues to strengthen its domestic plastics recycling capacity. While market dynamics will continue to shape recycling activity in support of broader sustainability goals, public policy and regulatory frameworks remain essential to ensuring efficient and well-functioning recycling markets.”
Click here to read the full analysis on the PLASTICS blog.
About the Plastics Industry Association
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) supports the entire plastics supply chain, including Equipment Suppliers, Material Suppliers, Processors, and Recyclers, representing over one million workers in our $551 billion U.S. industry. PLASTICS advances the priorities of our members who are dedicated to investing in technologies that improve capabilities and advances in recycling and sustainability and providing essential products that allow for the protection and safety of our lives. Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members, and the eighth largest U.S. manufacturing industry, more globally competitive while supporting circularity through educational initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, convening opportunities and policy advocacy, including the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE: The Plastics Show.
