Belarus January-August PE imports down by 7.6% year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Imports of polyethylene (PE) into Belarus fell by 7.6% year on year in the first eight months of 2018 with local companies reducing purchasing of exclusively linear polyethylene (LLDPE), according to MRC’s DataScope report.

The National Bureau of Statistics of Belarus said August PE imports to Belarus dropped to 8,100 tonnes from 8,900 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies reduced their purchasing of low density polyethylene (LDPE).

Overall PE imports totalled 75,800 tonnes in January-August compared to 82,100 tonnes a year earlier. Demand for LLDPE subsided significantly whereas demand for high density polyethylene (HDPE) increased.

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

August total LDPE imports dropped to 3,200 tonnes from 3,900 tonnes a month earlier.

Overall imports of this PE grade into Belarus totalled 25,800 tonnes in January-August, almost flat on last year’s figure.

HDPE imports decreased to 4,200 tonnes in August from 4,500 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies reported limited PE shipments from Russia.

Overall HDPE imports totalled 36,900 tonnes in the first eight months of 2018, up by 21.2% year on year.

LLDPE imports reached 12,200 tonnes over the stated period, whereas this figure was 26,200 tonnes a year earlier.

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