Russia’s PE imports increase 7% in January-September

MOSCOW (MRC)–Imports of polyethylene (PE) into the Russian market increased in January-September by 7% year on year to 431,600 tonnes, according to MRC’s DataScope Report.

Imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) grew significantly.

September PE imports into the Russian market fell to 51,800 tonnes, from 52,700 tonnes a month earlier.

Overall PE imports reached 431,600 tonnes in January-September 2017, compared to 401,600 tonnes a year earlier.

The HDPE and EVA segments accounted for the increase in imports, whereas other PE grades accounted for the decrease in import shipments.

Last month’s HDPE imports grew to 24,000 tonnes from 24,900 tonnes in August as local companies increased the volume of purchases of film HDPE in Uzbekistan and Ukraine, while demand for injection-moulded HDPE, on the contrary, was seriously reduced.

Overall, HDPE imports reached 167,000 tonnes in the first nine months of 2017 versus 112,900 tonnes a year earlier.

September linear polyethylene (LLDPE) imports into Russia decreased to about 13,200 tonnes against 12,300 tonnes a month earlier as local converters increased their purchases of injection moulding PE.

LLDPE imports totalled about 134,200 tonnes in the first nine months of the year, compared to 164,500 tonnes a year earlier.

Last month’s imports of low density polyethylene (LDPE) grew to 7,500 tonnes, compared to 7,000 tonnes in August.

Overall, LDPE imports decreased to 67,400 tonnes in January-September 2017 from 71,600 tonnes a year earlier.

September imports of EVA amounted to about 3,000 tonnes, which corresponds to the level of external supplies a month earlier.

Imports of this ethylene copolymer grade grew by 18% over the stated period to 27,200 tonnes.

Imports of other ethylene polymers totalled about 35,800 tonnes, compared to 29,700 tonnes a year earlier.

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