PVC imports to Belarus down 20% in first seven months of 2016

MOSCOW (MRC)–Overall imports of unmixed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into Belarus fell in the first eight months of 2016 by 20% year on year, totalling 12,800 tonnes, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

Local converters significantly increased their PVC purchasing in July, according to the Belarusian Statistics Committee.

Imports of resin rose to 3,000 tonnes from 1,800 tonnes in June. Limited export quotas of Russian producers forced local companies to offset a shortage of resin by shipments from Europe.

In general, demand for PVC from local converters subsided to 12,800 tonnes in January-July 2016, compared to 16,000 tonnes a year earlier.

Lower export sales of finished products, particularly of the profile-moulded products (PMP), was the main reason for such a major fall in processing volumes. PMP exports decreased in the first seven months of 2016 by 21.2% year on year, totalling 6,900 tonnes.

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