MOSCOW (
MRC) -- Ukrainian companies were forming actively inventories of high density polyethylene (HDPE) in August amid rising prices in Europe and falling supplies from Russia. HDPE imports to Ukraine grew by 16% from July, according to MRC
DataScope.
In August, Ukrainian companies increased HDPE imports to 14,900 tonnes from 12,800 tonnes in July.
As expected, film and blow moulding HDPE accounted for the main growth in imports.
Film HDPE imports went up to 6,200 tonnes last month from 5,100 tonnes in July. Middle Eastern HDPE accounted for the main increase in imports (higher prices in Europe have forced the Ukrainian companies to look for cheaper alternatives). Imports of film HDPE are expected to drop in September because of continued price rises in Europe and the resumption of production at Karpatneftekhim (the first lots of HDPE have already entered the market).
The September scheduled outage at Kazanorgsintez HDPE production (the key PE supplier to Ukraine ) has forced local companies to build up additional inventories of blow moulding PE for the first autumn months. Imports of blow moulding HDPE rose to 3,500 tonnes in August from 2,200 tonnes in July. Russian polyethylene accounted for the main increase in supplies.
A seasonal factor led to increased pipe HDPE supplies. However, the overall August increase in imports was only 15% (2,900 tonnes from 2,500 tonnes in July) amid tight pipe PE supply in foreign markets
Higher prices in foreign markets and a lack of offers from Russian producers, on the contrary, resulted in reductions in August imports of injection moulding HDPE to Ukraine. Imports fell to 1,300 tonnes in August from 1,600 tonnes in July.
The overall HDPE imports to Ukraine totalled about 99,000 tonnes in the first eight months of 2013, up 27% year on year. Film HDPE accounted for the main growth in imports (about 67% to 41,900 tonnes).
MRC