MOSCOW (MRC) -- In January, the imports of PET to Ukraine increased by 3,600 tonnes and made about 6,000 tonnes which was by 1.5 times more than in December 2011, according to MRC Datascope.
December shipments were a record low for the year, which resulted from the accumulated stock balance in the market. In January, the situation about inventories did not change significantly, but the converters increased purchases to be ready for a coming season.
The structure of supply also changed significantly. JBF Industries (UAE) had suspended the supply of PET over the third month. In 2011, this producer was the second largest importer in Ukraine. The South Korean material was not supplied to the Ukrainian market.
In January, Ukrainian converters turned to the Chinese PET. The volumes of granulate shipments from China rose by 8 times and made about 2,600 tonnes. The price was the main reason for this choice. China was the last Asian country which increased the price of the material. At the end of December the Chinese bottle PET was offered with a discount compared to the South Korean material.
Over the second month, supplies of Gatranova, Pakistani producer, have been increasing. In January, there were supplied about 1,300 tonnes of granulate of Gatranova A-80 grade. As per converters, the main volume of the contracted material will arrive to the market in February-March. In this regard, the volume of the Pakistani products is expected to increase in this period.
In addition, for the first time over the last 5 months, the market was entered by the Russian PET grade Ekopet 80. However, the share of this producer in the total volume of deliveries is quite small. In January, the plant delivered about 60 tonnes of PET. According to traders, it is quite difficult to compete with Asian granulation. First of all, because the Asian price quotations are much more preferable.
mrcpast.com