Belarus Jan-May PE imports up by 10.4% year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Overall imports of polyethylene (PE) into Belarus rose in the first five months by 10.4% year on year with all grades increasing apart from linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), according to MRC DataScope.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics of Belarus, May 2017 PE imports to Belarus dropped to 8,800 tonnes from 9,800 tonnes a month earlier.

The main decrease in supplies was for high density polyethylene (HDPE) from Russia.

Overall PE imports reached 50,100 tonnes in January-May 2017, compared to 45,400 tonnes a year earlier. The greatest increase in external supplies was for low density polyethylene (LDPE).

The structure of PE imports to Belarus by grades looked the following way over the stated period:

May total LDPE imports grew to 3,100 tonnes from 2,100 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies decreased their PE purchasing in Russia and Azerbaijan.

Overall imports of this PE grade into Belarus totalled about 14,100 tonnes in the first five months of 2017, compared to 9,200 tonnes a year earlier.

An accident at the local producer’s ethylene unit and, as a result, a major fall in capacity utilisation at LDPE production in the second half of the year, was the main reason for such a great increase in imports.

May LLDPE imports were around 2,900 tonnes versus 2,600 tonnes a month earlier. Thus, overall LLDPE imports to Belarus exceeded 17,400 tonnes in January-May 2017, whereas this figure was 20,100 tonnes a year earlier.

May imports of HDPE into Belarus decreased to 2,900 tonnes against 5,100 tonnes in April. Local companies decreased significantly their purchasing of film grade PE from Russian producers. Overall HDPE imports into the country were about 18,600 tonnes in January-May 2017, up by 15.2% year on year.

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