MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall polyethylene (PE) imports into the Russian market decreased in the first three months of 2016 by 22% year on year, totalling 101,500 tonnes. The high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) segment accounted for a major fall in imports, according to MRC DataScope report.
March PE imports to the Russian market grew to 42,100 tonnes from 33,400 tonnes a month earlier, shipments of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and HDPE increased. Overall PE imports decreased to 101,500 tonnes in the first three months of the year, compared to 129,500 tonnes a year earlier. The HDPE and LLDPE segments accounted for a major reductions in imports, whereas imports of LDPE and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) rose.
The structure of PE imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
Last month's HDPE imports grew to 13,200 tonnes from 8,000 tonnes in February. Producers from Uzbekistan (blow moulding and injection moulding HDPE) and from Germany (PE for extrusion coating of steel pipes) accounted for the growth in imports. However, despite the March surge, overall HDPE imports into Russia fell to 30,000 tonnes in the first three months of 2016 from 42,500 tonnes a year earlier.
March LLDPE imports rose to 13,500 tonnes versus 12,700 tonnes a month earlier. The seasonal increase in demand and lower prices in foreign markets, along with the rouble strengthening, made imported PE more procurable for Russian converters, particularly, for stretch films producers. Overall LLDPE imports reached 34,000 tonnes in January-March 2016, compared to 52,800 tonnes a year earlier.
Last month's LDPE imports rose to 10,600 tonnes from 8,100 tonnes in February. Both purchases in Belarus and in Europe increased. A seasonal rise in demand for film products was the reason for higher imports. Overall LDPE imports grew to 24,900 tonnes in the first quarter of 2016, compared to 22,400 tonnes a year earlier.
March imports of ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) were less than 2,000 tonnes versus 2,100 tonnes a month earlier, films producers reduced their purchasing. However, EVA imports rose to 5,20tonneses over the stated period from 4,400 tonnes a year earlier.
Imports of other polymers of ethylene exceeded 7,400 tonnes in the first quarter of 2016, which equalled the figure of the same period of 2015.
MRC