Trade data show plastics exports still growing

Canada’s exports of plastic products, machinery, resins and molds have grown in the first half of 2003 compared with the previous year, despite the rising value of the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. currency, and the perception of tough foreign competition.
Trade data for the first seven months of 2003 are now available. John Margeson of Industry Canada has calculated these values for the plastics industry (Jan. to July, in millions, figure in brackets shows change from the same period in 2002):
SYNTHETIC RESINS:
exports – $3209 (5.8%); imports – $3323 (-0.2%)
PLASTIC PRODUCTS:
exports – $5435 (2.6%); imports – $4013 (0.7%)
PLASTIC PROCESSING MACHINERY:
exports – $713 (23.3%); imports – $342 (5.2%)
MOLDS:
exports – $806 (3.6%); imports – $284 (-2.5%)
In light of all the recent talk about Chinese imports to North America, Margeson also analyzed data regarding plastics-sector imports from and exports to China. He found that imports of resins, plastic products and molds have grown substantially compared with last year, but that Canadian exports to China have also increased.
With regard to molds, for example, Canadian exports to China were $13 million for the first seven months of 2003, up 310% from the 2002 level. Imports of molds from China stand at $6 million, up 104% from the same period last year.