MOSCOW (MRC) -- The overall imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) totalled 57,800 tonnes over the first four months of 2015, down by a quarter year on year. Imports dropped in all sectors of consumption, with the exception of the injection moulding sector, according to MRC DataScope report.
April HDPE imports to Russia were 14,700 tonnes versus 14,300 tonnes a month earlier. The overall HDPE imports totalled 57,800 tonnes from January to April 2015 versus 76,700 tonnes a year earlier. Imports were reduced in al consumption sectors, except for injection moulding sector, with pipe grade polyethylene (PE) accounting for the largest drop in supplies.
The supply structure by consumption sectors looks the following way over the stated period.
Last month's imports of pipe grade HDPE decreased to 900 tonnes from 1,300 tonnes in March, limited export quotas from European and Asian producers being one of the reasons for the fall. The overall imports of pipe grade HDPE into Russia totalled 6,500 tonnes over the first four months of the year versus 16,000 tonnes a year earlier. The key factors that caused the decline in imports were weak demand for finished products and higher HDPE prices in foreign markets compared with Russian producers' prices. Also, producers from Europe and Asia have recently significantly cut their export quotas, according to reports.
April imports of HDPE for extrusion coating of large diameter steel pipes slumped to 3,600 tonnes from 5,100 tonnes a month earlier. The overall imports of this PE grade dropped to 18,300 tonnes over the said period from 23,400 tonnes over the same period of 2014. The increased domestic production of this PE grade and weaker demand for these products were the main reason for the fall.
Imports of injection moulding HDPE rose to 5,800 tonnes last month from 4,300 tonnes in March because of a major increase in supplies from Uzbekistan among other reasons. Imports of injection moulding PE went up to 17,000 tonnes from January to April 2015, up by 7% year on year.
April HDPE imports for extrusion blow moulding (EBM) were 2,500 tonnes versus 2,100 tonnes in March. The overall imports of this PE grade into Russia totalled about 9,700 tonnes over the stated period versus 11,100 tonnes a year earlier.
The overall HDPE imports into the other consumption sectors, including extrusion and film production, totalled slightly more than 6,300 tonnes from January to April 2015 versus 10,400 tonnes in 2014.
MRC