Belarus January-June PP imports up by 6.4% year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Imports of polypropylene (PP) into Belarus grew in the first half of 2018 by 6.4% year on year to 49,500 tonnes, with demand increasing for all grades, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

June PP imports were down at 8,400 tonnes compared to 9,000 tonnes a month earlier, with local companies reducing their purchasing of injection moulding propylene copolymers.

Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 49,500 tonnes in January-June compared to 46,500 tonnes in the same period a year earlier. Propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) accounted for the greatest increase in demand.

The supply structure by PP grades looked the following way over the stated period:

June imports of homopolymer PP were flat with May, totalling slightly over 6,000 tonnes. January-June imports of this grade reached 33,600 tonnes, up by 7.6% year on year.

Russian producers with the share of about 89% of the total shipments were the key suppliers.

June imports of propylene copolymers to Belarus were 2,300 tonnes versus 3,000 tonnes a month earlier, with local companies reducing their procurement of injection moulding block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymer).

Overall imports of propylene copolymers reached 16,000 tonnes in January-June, up from 15,300 tonnes a year earlier.

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