MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of polyethylene (PE) into the Russian market dropped in the first four months of 2016 by 19% year on year, totalling about 142,900 tonnes. High density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) accounted for a major fall in imports, according to MRC DataScope report.
April PE imports to the Russian market were 41,500 tonnes, compared to 42,100 tonnes a month earlier, HDPE shipments decreased significantly. Overall PE imports fell to 142,900 tonnes in the first four months of 2016 from 175,800 tonnes a year earlier. A major reduction in shipments was registered in the HDPE and LLDPE segments, whereas imports of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) increased.
The structure of PE imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
April LLDPE imports rose to 16,200 tonnes from 13,500 tonnes a month earlier. The absence of PE production by Russian producers was the main reason for the growth of imports. Thus, LLDPE imports reached 50,300 tonnes in the first four months of the year versus 71,700 tonnes a year earlier.
Last month's HDPE imports decreased to 10,000 tonnes from 13,200 tonnes in March. Producers from Uzbekistan and Europe accounted for the fall in imports (blow moulding and injection moulding HDPE and polyethylene for extrusion coating of large diameter steel pipes, respectively). Overall HDPE imports to Russia fell to 39,900 tonnes from January to April 2016, compared to 57,000 tonnes a year earlier.
April LDPE imports virtually remained at the level of March, totalling slightly over 10,000 tonnes. Overall LDPE imports rose to 34,800 tonnes in the first four months of the year from 30,100 tonnes a year earlier.
Last month's imports of ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) also remained at the level of March, totalling 2,000 tonnes. EVA imports grew to 7,300 tonnes from January to April versus 6,200 tonnes a year earlier.
Import of other polymers of ethylene exceeded 10,700 tonnes in the first four months of the year, which equalled the figure of the same period of 2015.
MRC