PE imports to Belarus drop by 5% in Jan-June

MOSCOW (MRC)–Imports of polyethylene (PE) into Belarus decreased by 5% year on year in the first six months of 2018, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

Overall, PE imports totalled 58,800 tonnes, compared to 61,900 tonnes a year earlier. Demand for high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) increased, whereas demand for linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) subsided significantly.

In June alone, imports to Belarus dropped to 9,100 tonnes from 9,600 tonnes a month earlier, according to the National Bureau of Statistics of Belarus, as local companies reduced their purchasing of HDPE.

June total LDPE imports fell to 3,700 tonnes from 3,900 tonnes a month earlier meaning imports of this PE grade into Belarus totalled about 18,700 tonnes in January-June 2018, compared to 18,400 tonnes a year earlier.

June LLDPE imports were about 1,200 tonnes, flat with May. Overall LLDPE imports, therefore, reached 10,900 tonnes in January-June, whereas this figure was about 21,000 tonnes a year earlier.

June HDPE imports decreased to 4,200 tonnes from 4,500 tonnes a month earlier. Thus, overall HDPE imports totalled 28,200 tonnes in the first six months of 2018, up by 27.4% year on year.

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