MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of polyethylene (PE) into Ukraine decreased to 179,000 tonnes in the first nine months of 2018, up 3% compared to the same period of 2017. At the same time, a decrease in imports was seen in the segment of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), according to the DataScope.
September PE imports to Ukraine decreased to 16,500 tonnes against 20,700 tonnes in August, the main reason for the decline in purchases is limited export quotas from producers in Europe and Russia. Total PE imports into the country exceeded 179,000 tonnes in January - September 2018, compared with 185,400 tonnes in the same time a year earlier. Imports of HDPE and EVA decreased, while demand for other ethylene polymers increased.
The supply structure by PE grades looked the following way over the stated period.
September imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) decreased to 4,900 tonnes against 6,200 tonnes in August, the decrease in supplies accounted on polyethylene for the production of plastic bottles and film products from Europe. Overall HDPE imports reached 54,900 tonnes in the first nine months of the year, compared to 74,700 tonnes a year earlier.
Film grade HDPE accounted for the greatest reduction in imports (-60%), which was caused by the resumption of the local production.
September imports of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) decreased to 4,500 tonnes against 6,300 tonnes a month earlier, some companies reduced purchases of LDPE in Russia and the Middle East. Overall LDPE imports reached 59,500 tonnes over the stated period, up by 15% year on year.
September imports of LLDPE into the country decreased to 5,800 tonnes, compared with 6,200 tonnes in August on a weaker purchases from local producers of large items produced by rotational moulding. In general, January - September LLDPE imports into Ukraine increased to 55,400 tonnes compared with 49,300 tonnes year on year. The main increase in demand occurred for the local producers of the film production.
Imports of other grades of polyethylene, including EVA for the period under review reached about 11,700 tonnes against 11,900 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC