According to the National Bureau of Statistics of Belarus, May 2018 PE imports to Belarus grew to 9,600 tonnes from 8,800 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies increased their purchasing of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE). Overall HDPE imports exceeded 49,600 tonnes in the first five months of the year, compared to 50,100 tonnes a year earlier. Demand for HDPE and LDPE increased, whereas the need in LLDPE subsided significantly.
The structure of PE imports to Belarus by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
May LDPE imports to Belarus rose to 3,900 tonnes from 3,000 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies increased their PE purchasing in Russia during the shutdown for maintenance at the local producer - Polymir. Overall imports of this PE grade into Belarus totalled about 15,000 tonnes in January-May 2018, compared to 14,100 tonnes a year earlier.
May LLDPE imports were 1,200 tonnes versus 1,500 tonnes a month earlier, local companies reduced significantly their purchasing of Middle Eastern butene grade PE. Thus, overall LLDPE imports reached 9,700 tonnes over the stated period, whereas this figure was 17,400 tonnes a year earlier.
May HDPE imports grew to 4,500 tonnes from 4,200 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies increased their purchasing of PE from Russian producers. Thus, overall HDPE imports totalled about 24,000 tonnes in the first five months of 2018, up by 29% year on year.
MRC