MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of bottle grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into Kazakhstan decreased in January and February 2015 by 11% year on year to 5,700 tonnes, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.
Importers began to prefer Chinese grades in January February, increasing their import share to 71.8%. Overall, over 4,000 tonnes of PET were imported from China over the first two months of the year. The rest of the imports was spread among South Korean producers. Imports from other countries were virtually absent. Only 60 tonnes of PET were imported to Kazakhstan from Russia in January.
February imports of PET chips to Kazakhstan slightly dropped from January. Traders also reported the traditionally weak demand in February. Overall, 2,170 tonnes of material were imported, down by 1,300 tonnes from January.
As reported earlier, in 2014, Kazakh companies increased shipments of imported PET chips by 5%. Overall, 54,400 tonnes of bottle grade PET, among which Chinese PET grades accounted for nearly 60% and Korean PET grades - about 40%, were imported to the Kazakh market last year.
MRC