PLASTICS Releases Global Trends Report, U.S. Plastics Remains Driver of Global Economic Growth 

Düsseldorf, Germany— The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) released its annual Global Trends Report today during a press conference held at K Show 2025 in Düsseldorf, Germany. The report highlights that U.S. plastics trade remains a driver of global economic growth.

“The U.S. plastics industry remains a driving force behind manufacturing and the global economy—ranking as the world’s second largest in plastics trade, according to our annual Global Plastics Ranking®,” said PLASTICS Chief Economist Dr. Perc Pineda. “With a $23.7 billion trade surplus in resins, the United States continues to ensure global access to essential materials that power innovation, production, and growth across industries.”

“The U.S. plastics industry is a leader in global trade, illustrating not only the importance of plastics but also their reach across the economy,” said PLASTICS President and CEO Matt Seaholm. “Our members continue to innovate, invest, and scale new technologies that improve sustainability and efficiency, while providing the materials that keep industries moving and communities thriving.”

Highlights from the Global Trends Report include:

  • The U.S. resin industry recorded a $23.7 billion surplus in 2024, consistent with 2023 levels.
  • Mexico and Canada remained the largest export markets, with U.S. exports totaling $19.8 billion to Mexico and $14.3 billion to Canada, resulting in the industry’s largest trade surplus—$11.6 billion—with Mexico.
  • China was the third-largest export market, with $7.3 billion in U.S. exports (unchanged from 2023), but also the largest source of the industry’s trade deficit, amounting to $12.4 billion. The U.S. had a $4.3 billion trade surplus in resin with China in 2024.

The Global Trends Report and its accompanying dataset provide a uniquely comprehensive account of U.S. plastics exports and imports worldwide in each of the four categories of the plastics industry – resin, products, machinery, and molds. The report is also the only plastics trade report that includes trade analysis outlining the movement of resins and plastics that are embedded in goods that the U.S. both exports and imports.

An executive summary and the full PLASTICS’ Global Trends Report are available to Plastics Industry Association members online at: https://www.plasticsindustry.org/data-analysis-reports/global-trends/

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.

Related posts