MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of polyethylene (PE) into the Republic of Belarus increased in the first three months of 2016 by 7.1% year on year, totalling slightly over 24,400 tonnes, according to MRC DataScope report.
According to the National Statistics Bureau of the Republic of Belarus, March 2016 PE imports to Belarus grew to 11,000 tonnes under the pressure of seasonal factors from 7,700 tonnes a month earlier. All PE grades accounted for the increase in supply. Overall PE imports rose to 24,400 tonnes in January-March 2016, compared with 22,800 tonnes a year earlier.
The structure of PE imports into Belarus by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
March total imports of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) went up to 7,500 tonnes from 4,900 tonnes a month earlier. LLDPE from Saudi Arabia accounted for the main growth in shipments in March (imports grew to 6,000 tonnes in March, compared to 3,300 tonnes in February). Overall imports of these PE grades to Belarus reached 15,600 tonnes in the first three months of the year, compared to 15,300 tonnes a year earlier.
March imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) grew to 3,500 tonnes from 2,800 tonnes a month earlier. Russian producers accounted for the main increase in PE shipments (imports from Russia rose to 2,700 tonnes). Thus, HDPE imports exceeded 8,800 tonnes from January to March 2016, up by 18.8% year on year.
MRC