MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) into Belarus decreased by 2% in the first nine months of 2013 to around 141,100 tonnes. The low density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) markets accounted for the greatest drop in imports, reported MRC analysts.
PE and PP imports to Belarus fell to 81,000 tonnes and 60,200 tonnes, respectively, in January-September 2013 from 82,000 tonnes and 62,000 tonnes in the same period a year earlier. Demand for high density polyethylene (HDPE) grew significantly, whereas demand for LDPE and LLDPE fell by almost a quarter.
The structure of polyolefins imports looks the following way.
HDPE imports into Belarus increased to 47,700 tonnes in the first nine months of 2013 from 38,600 tonnes a year earlier. The main HDPE suppliers are Russian companies with their supply volume of about 25,000 tonnes over the said period. Sabic, a PE producer from Saudi Arabia, occupies the second place, with its supply volume of 9,200 tonnes.
LDPE and LLDPE imports in January-September this year fell by 23% year on year and totalled 33,300 tonnes. Sabic's PE accounted for main supplies (about 18,300 tonnes).
Demand for polypropylene dropped by 3% to 60,200 tonnes over the said period. Supplies of homopolymer of propylene (homopolymer PP) decreased to 43,900 tonnes from 46,100 tonnes a year earlier. The share of Russian producers accounted for about 53% of the total homopolymer PP shipments.
Imports of copolymers of propylene, on the contrary, rose to 16,300 tonnes this year from 15,800 tonnes in 2012. Key suppliers of copolymers of propylene to Belarus are German producers with their share of 74% of total imports.
MRC