MOSCOW (MRC) --PE imports went down seriously in Russia in the first half of the year – according to MRC. Many companies cut down purchase amounts due to lack of funds. Imports of Asian material to the Russian market decreased nearly three times. Over the course of the six months, overall PE imports moved at 145.51 kt.
During January-June,HDPEimports dropped by 47%, compared to the same period last year. Imports of pipe-grade HDPE decreased more than three times (Korea Petrochemical – 64%, LyondellBasell – 81%). There is lack of material in the pipe-grade HDPE market, and this situation is to last, at least, till August.
In the first half of the year,LDPE imports dropped by 32%, compared to the same period last year, down to 27.96 kt. Russian converters ceased to import LDPE from Azerbaijan (the share ofLDPE imported from Azerbaijan was at the level of 10% in 2008).
The Russian LLDPE market was going down during the first half of the year, as well (minus 9% compared to the same period in 2008, to 38.41 kt). The biggest share in LLDPE imports belonged to Dow and Exxon Mobil (57% of overall imports in January-June 2009).
