MOSCOW (MRC) -- Importers reduced their supply of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by more than three-fold over the first four months of 2015 compared to January - April 2014. Overall, 25,200 tonnes of PET were imported over the stated period, according to MRC DataScope report.
Imports have been falling at record rates this year. The analysis of the imports statistics by product grades shows that shipments of PET chips decreased by 3.7 times to 22,600 tonnes. Imports of recycled material (PET-flex) rose slightly. Overall, the market received 1,800 tonnes of PET-flex from January to April 2015. Imports of recycled bottle grade PET increased from January to April 2015 by 4.5% year on year. The traditional flex importers remained RB Group and Freudenberg Politex.
Imports of amorphous PET (APET) should also be noted. Over 800 tonnes of APET were importd to the market in April.
Injection moulding grades traditionally dominated in the supply structure of PET chips. Imports of PET for preforms moulding were 19,600 tonnes from January to April 2015, whereas imports of extrusion grades for films production totalled about 3,000 tonnes over the said period.
HY-W01 grade of Shanghai Hengyi Polyester (imports were 4,800 tonnes) and Jade CZ-302 grade of Jiangsu Sanfangxiang (imports were 4,300 tonnes over the stated period) are the most popular injection moulding grades.
MRC