Trading PET Soda Bottles to China
Since the start of the plastic scrap trading industry, PET has been a hot selling commodity. This is due to the fact that the common plastic soda/water bottle (made with PET plastic) can be processed into recycled polyester staple fiber (PSF), which can then be made into clothing.
The first thing to know about exporting and importing PET bottles to China is, like other plastic scrap, it must pass CCIC pre-inspection. As soda/water bottles generally have remaining liquids such as leftover juices, soda, for example. Soiled plastic bottles are often stinky and attract many insects like ants and flies, which is a "no-no" in the inspector's eyes. To correctly export PET bottles to China, they are shredded (release liquids) and put through a fast water bath. To cut back the humidity within the PET flakes, the semi-cleaned flakes are left out in the sunshine for drying and then was compacted and baled for shipment.
If the PET bottles aren't properly cleaned, that is, baled full, they're typically sent to other countries for processing such as Hong Kong, Vietnam, Philippines, for example.
On the China side of things, a proper environmental license is necessary for importing PET plastic bottles. In reality the common import license requires the PET to be shredded or flaked. More frequently than not, purchasers of PET flakes are end-users that own the environmental certificate. This permits the purchaser to not only lower the expenses for importing; it gives the purchaser certain tax rebates. I have heard stories that the Chinese government plans to release environmental import licenses for full plastic bottles nonetheless , it has yet to come out.
PET flakes are often specified by type and colour. The most expensive is clean, clear, dried PET flakes without labels or bottle tops. At the time of this article, this commodity sells for around $1100 USD per metric ton CNF China. The less fascinating is clear PET flakes with labels and bottle tops which are made with PP or PE plastic. Once these arrive in China, they must go through extra processing before usage. The price for this is around $950 USD per metric ton CNF China. The above costs are based on very low, almost no humidity and PVC content (or other plastics).
This should have given you basic information on plastic scrap trading that should also help you to understand it's pricing and what you can do to help make sure you get the very best price for your scrap.
The first thing to know about exporting and importing PET bottles to China is, like other plastic scrap, it must pass CCIC pre-inspection. As soda/water bottles generally have remaining liquids such as leftover juices, soda, for example. Soiled plastic bottles are often stinky and attract many insects like ants and flies, which is a "no-no" in the inspector's eyes. To correctly export PET bottles to China, they are shredded (release liquids) and put through a fast water bath. To cut back the humidity within the PET flakes, the semi-cleaned flakes are left out in the sunshine for drying and then was compacted and baled for shipment.
If the PET bottles aren't properly cleaned, that is, baled full, they're typically sent to other countries for processing such as Hong Kong, Vietnam, Philippines, for example.
On the China side of things, a proper environmental license is necessary for importing PET plastic bottles. In reality the common import license requires the PET to be shredded or flaked. More frequently than not, purchasers of PET flakes are end-users that own the environmental certificate. This permits the purchaser to not only lower the expenses for importing; it gives the purchaser certain tax rebates. I have heard stories that the Chinese government plans to release environmental import licenses for full plastic bottles nonetheless , it has yet to come out.
PET flakes are often specified by type and colour. The most expensive is clean, clear, dried PET flakes without labels or bottle tops. At the time of this article, this commodity sells for around $1100 USD per metric ton CNF China. The less fascinating is clear PET flakes with labels and bottle tops which are made with PP or PE plastic. Once these arrive in China, they must go through extra processing before usage. The price for this is around $950 USD per metric ton CNF China. The above costs are based on very low, almost no humidity and PVC content (or other plastics).
This should have given you basic information on plastic scrap trading that should also help you to understand it's pricing and what you can do to help make sure you get the very best price for your scrap.