MOSCOW (MRC) -- The overall imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) totalled 158,300 tonnes over the first ten months of 2015, down by 37% year on year. HDPE for extrusion blow moulding (EBM) and pipe extrusion accounted for the greatest decrease in imports, according MRC DataScope report.
The October HDPE imports to Russia rose to 17,900 tonnes from 17,200 tonnes a month earlier because of the increased shipments of pipe grade and film grade polyethylene (PE). The overal HDPE imports totalled 158,300 tonnes from January to October 2015 versus 253,100 tonnes a year earlier. Such a major fall in imports was caused by a stable performance of Russian producers and weaker demand in certain consumption sectors.
The supply structure by consumption sectors looks the following way over the stated period.
The October imports of HDPE for extrusion coating of large diameter steel pipes grew to 1,800 tonnes from 1,200 tonnes a month earlier. The overall imports of this PE grade decreased to 41,800 tonnes over the first ten months of the year, down by 14% year on year, partially because of the increased production of Metaclay.
The last month's imports of injection moulding HDPE dropped to 3,100 tonnes from 4,100 tonnes in September because of lower supplies from Uzbekistan. Imports of injection moulding PE totalled 38,400 tonnes from January to October 2015, down by 3% year on year.
The October imports of pipe grade HDPE rose to 6,400 tonnes from 5,500 tonnes in September. The shutdowns for maintenance at Russian plants were the main cause of higher imports of pipe grade PE. The overall imports of pipe grade PE into Russia totalled 32,300 tonnes over the first ten months of the year versus 74,100 tonnes a year earlier.
The last month's imports of HDPE for EBM fell to 1,300 tonnes from 2,500 tonnes in September. The overall imports of this PE grade to Russia totalled 20,700 tonnes over the stated period versus 46,000 tonnes a year earlier.
The October imports of film grade HDPE rose to 3,300 tonnes from 2,100 tonnes a month earlier. Imports of film grade HDPE slumped to 14,100 tonnes over the first ten months of the year from 33,200 tonnes a year earlier.
The overall HDPE imports into other consumption sectors, including the extrusion of cable products, totalled 11,100 tonnes from January to October 2015 versus 11,600 tonnes in 2014.
MRC