MOSCOW (MRC) -- Last year's imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) to the Russian market grew by 6%. September - a month of shutdowns at Tatar producers - accounted for the peak of imports, whereas the extrusion moulding sector accounted for the largest increase, according to MRC DataScope report.
December HDPE imports to Russia rose to 25,400 tonnes from 21,000 tonnes in November. The overall imports of this polyethylene (PE) grade into Russia increased to 300,600 tonnes in 2014 versus 284,600 tonnes a year earlier. September - the period of outages for maintenance at Kazanorgsintez and Nizhnekamskneftekhim - accounted for the peak imports. Extrusion grade HDPE for blow moulding accounted for the largest increase in imports.
The supply structure by consumption sectors looks the following way over the said period.
Last month's imports of pipe grade HDPE fell below 4,000 tonnes under the pressure of seasonal factors from 5,200 tonnes in November. The overall imports of pipe grade PE to Russia totalled 83,900 tonnes, up by 24% year on year.
December imports of HDPE for extrusion coating of large-diameter steel pipes rose to 9,600 tonnes (5,500 tonnes in November). PE shipments to this processing sector dropped by 13% over the stated period and reached 64,000 tonnes. Lower imports of this HDPE grade was caused, among other, by the increased domestic production (Metakley launched a similar PE production in the middle of the year). Nizhnekamskneftekhim also intends to enter this segment
Last month's imports of blow moulding HDPE grew to 3,700 tonnes from 3,300 tonnes in November. Last year's imports of this PE grade surged by 40% and came close to 53,000 tonnes.
December imports of injection moulding HDPE rose to 4,900 tonnes (3,600 tonnes in November). The overall imports of this HDPE grade to Russia grew by 9% to 47,900 tonnes.
September accounted for the peak imports of film grade HDPE - 7,800 tonnes, after which they began to rapidly decline. Last month's figure was 2,600 tonnes (2,000 tonnes in November). Last year's imports of film grade PE totalled 38,100 tonnes, down by 15% year on year.
HDPE imports to other consumption sectors (cable extrusion, rotational moulding, etc.) fell to 13,700 tonnes in 2014 versus 16,300 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC