Belarus PE imports fall 2.1% January-August

MOSCOW (MRC)–Overall imports of polyethylene (PE) into Belarus decreased 2.2% year on year in the first eight months of 2017 to 82,000 tonnes, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

Local companies increased their purchases of all PE grades, except for linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE).

According to the National Bureau of Statistics of Belarus, August 2017 PE imports to Belarus dropped to 9,600 tonnes from 10,600 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies reduced their purchasing of Middle Eastern LLDPE.

Overall PE imports reached 82,000 tonnes in January-August 2017, compared to 83,700 tonnes a year earlier. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) accounted for the greatest increase in shipments.

August LDPE imports decreased to 3,600 tonnes from 3,800 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies reduced their PE purchasing in Russia. Overall imports of this PE grade into Belarus totalled 25,800 tonnes in the first eight months of 2017, compared to 19,300 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 since July 2016 was the main reason for such a great increase in imports.

August LLDPE imports were 1,600 tonnes versus 2,800 tonnes a month earlier, local companies significantly reduced their purchasing of Middle Eastern PE for the production of stretch films.

Thus, overall LLDPE imports to Belarus exceeded 25,800 tonnes in January-August 2017, whereas this figure was 34,900 tonnes a year earlier.

August imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) grew to 4,300 tonnes from 4,000 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies almost doubled their purchasing of PE from European producers. Thus, HDPE imports totalled 30,500 tonnes in January-August 2017, up by 3.1% year on year.

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