According to the National Bureau of Statistics of Belarus, February 2017 PE imports to Belarus increased to 11,500 tonnes from 8,500 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies raised their import purchasing of LLDPE in the Middle East and of LDPE in Russia. Overall PE imports reached 20,000 tonnes in January-February 2017, compared to 13,400 tonnes a year earlier. Imports of all PE grades rose, with LLDPE and LDPE accounting for the greatest increase.
The structure of PE imports to Belarus by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
February total LDPE imports grew to 3,200 tonnes from 1,900 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies increased their PE purchasing in Russia and Azerbaijan. Overall imports of this PE grade into Belarus totalled 5,100 tonnes in the first two months of 2017, compared to 2,600 tonnes a year earlier. An accident at the local producer's ethylene unit and, as a result, a major fall in capacity utilisation at LDPE production in the second half of the year was the main reason for such a great increase in imports.
February LLDPE imports were 4,900 tonnes versus 3,700 tonnes a month earlier. Thus, overall LLDPE imports to Belarus exceeded 8,600 tonnes in January-February 2017, whereas this figure was 5,500 tonnes a year earlier. Market participants said the bulk of LLDPE was redirected further to Russia.
February imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) grew to 3,500 tonnes from 2,900 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies decreased their purchasing of film grade PE in Uzbekistan and of pipe grade PE in Europe. Thus, HDPE imports totalled 6,400 tonnes in the first two months of 2017, up by 20% year on year.
MRC