PP imports to Belarus up by 7.8% in Q1 2017

MOSCOW (MRC)–Imports of polypropylene (PP) into Belarus rose in the first three months of 2017 by 7.8% year on year, totalling about 22,000 tonnes, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

All PP grades accounted for the increase in shipments.
 
March PP imports into Belarus grew to 9,400 tonnes from 6,300 tonnes a month earlier, local companies significantly increased their purchasing of injection moulding propylene homopolymer and statistical propylene copolymer.

Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 22,000 tonnes in January-March 2017, compared to 20,400 tonnes a year earlier. Demand for all PP grades increased, but propylene copolymer accounted for the greatest growth.

March imports of homopolymer PP to the Belarusian market rose to 6,300 tonnes from 4,200 tonnes a month earlier, with injection moulding homopolymer PP accounting for the main increase in shipments. Overall shipments of homopolymer PP reached 14,700 tonnes in the first three months of 2017 versus 14,100 tonnes a year earlier. Russian producers, with the share of 85% of the total shipments, were the key suppliers.

March imports of propylene copolymers into Belarus grew to 3,100 tonnes from 1,700 tonnes a month earlier. The largest producer of injection moulding packaging raised its purchasing of injection moulding PP random copolymer in Russia. Thus, overall imports of propylene copolymers exceeded 7,200 tonnes in January-March 2017, whereas this figure was 6,200 tonnes a year earlier. Russian producers, with the share of about 73%, were also the main suppliers of propylene copolymers.

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