PE imports into Kazakhstan down 10% in Jan-May

MOSCOW (MRC)–Imports of polyethylene (PE) into Kazakhstan dropped to 41,500 tonnes in the January-May period, down 10% year on year, according to MRC analysts.

Demand for low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) decreased significantly, according to MRC analysts, with May PE imports into Kazakhstan at 10,800 tonnes, almost the same April level.

Local companies increased their purchases of HDPE while the delivery of other types of polyethylene was reduced. Total PE imports into the country were about 41,500 tonnes in January-May compared with 46,000 tonnes in the same period a year earlier.

May HDPE imports into Kazakhstan rose to 9,600 tonnes from 8,800 tonnes a month earlier.

The main increase in the purchases provided local producers of pipes, which increased volumes of polyethylene procurement in Russia. Kazakhstan’s HDPE imports totalled about 31,900 tonnes in the first five months of the year, down 8% year on year.

May imports of LDPE into the country decreased to 900 tonnes, compared with 1,100 tonnes in April.

Further decline in imports was a result of limited export quotas from Russian producers due to the severe shortage in their own market.

Total imports of LDPE into the country were about 7,600 tonnes in the first five months of the year, down 21% year on year.

Purchases of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) by local companies in May were reduced to 351 tonnes compared to 826 tonnes a month earlier. LLDPE imports reached about 2,000 tonnes in January-May compared to 1,900 tonnes in the same period of 2015.

MRC, a partner of ICIS, produces polymers news and pricing reports from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.