Ukraine PE Jan-May imports down by 6% year on year

(recasts, clarifying final figure in 8th paragraph)

MOSCOW (MRC)–Overall imports of polyethylene (PE) into Ukraine dropped in the first five months of 2017 by 6% year on year to 100,600 tonnes, with demand for low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) subsiding, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

May imports of polyethylene increased to 23,800 tonnes compared with 17,500 tonnes in April, with local companies significantly increasing the volume of purchases of film HDPE and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE).

In general, January-May imports into Ukraine totalled 100,600 tonnes compared with 106,700 tonnes year on year. The supply of LLDPE and ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) increased.

The structure of PE imports over the reported period was as follows.      

Last month there was a serious increase in imports of HDPE – 11,100 tonnes against 7,700 tonnes in April, with local companies doubling the volume of purchases of film polyethylene.

Overall HDPE imports reached 42,900 tonnes in the first five months of 2017 versus 52,200 tonnes a year earlier. Shipments of film grade HDPE fell by almost 15% while demand for injection moulding and pipe HDPE subsided by 18%.

May imports of LDPE increased to 5,000 tonnes, compared with 4,100 tonnes in April, with the main bulk of purchases accounting for Russian PE. Overall LDPE imports reached 25,400 tonnes over the stated period, down by 3% year on year.

Last month’s imports of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) were about 6,300 tonnes, compared to 4,300 tonnes in April, with films producers accounting for an increase in demand. Overall LLDPE imports grew to 25,500 tonnes in January-May 2017 from 23,900 tonnes a year earlier.

Producers of film and cabling and wiring products accounted for the main increase in demand. Imports of other grades of polyethylene, including ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) for the period under review, reached about 6,900 tonnes against 4,300 tonnes a year earlier.

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