China Q1 TCE Exports Jump 47.6% as PCE Shipments Surge

China's exports of trichloroethylene (TCE) rose sharply in the first quarter of 2026, while tetrachloroethylene (PCE) shipments more than doubled from a year earlier despite a steep monthly decline in March, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs of China.

In March 2026, China exported 4,000 tonnes of trichloroethylene, up 69.0% from the previous month and 25.0% higher than a year earlier, customs data showed.

For the January-March period, cumulative exports of trichloroethylene reached 11,000 tonnes, marking a 47.6% increase compared with the same period last year.

Tetrachloroethylene exports, however, declined significantly on a monthly basis in March. China exported 2,000 tonnes of tetrachloroethylene during the month, down 68.7% from February and 42.8% lower than a year earlier.

Despite the March slowdown, China's cumulative tetrachloroethylene exports for the first quarter climbed 108.3% year-on-year to 15,000 tonnes.

India was the largest destination for Chinese trichloroethylene exports in the first quarter, accounting for 21.5% of total shipments, followed by Russia at 11.8%, Turkey at 10.4%, the United States at 9.7%, and Japan at 9.2%.

For tetrachloroethylene, the United Arab Emirates remained the dominant export market, taking 68.9% of China's total exports in the first quarter. Other major destinations included Russia with 4.0%, Turkey with 3.6%, India with 2.2%, and Vietnam with 1.9%.