MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of polyethylene (PE) into Belarus decreased by 10.6% year on year in the first nine months of 2018, reaching 83,100 tonnes. At the same time, local companies reduced purchasing of exclusively linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), according to MRC's DataScope report.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics of Belarus, PE imports to Belarus dropped to 7,300 tonnes in September 2018 from 8,100 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies reduced their purchasing of low density polyethylene (LDPE). Overall PE imports totalled 83,100 tonnes in January-September 2018, compared to 93,000 tonnes a year earlier. Demand for LLDPE subsided significantly, whereas demand for high density polyethylene (HDPE) increased.
The structure of PE imports to Belarus by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
September 2018 HDPE imports fell to 2,700 tonnes from 3,200 tonnes a month earlier, with Russian producers accounting for the main decrease in shipments. Overall imports of this PE grade into Belarus totalled 28,500 tonnes in January-September 2018, which virtually corresponded to the last year's figure.
HDPE imports were slightly over 4,200 tonnes in the first month of autumn, which corresponded to the August figure. Thus, overall HDPE imports totalled 41,100 tonnes in the first nine months of 2018, up by 12.7% year on year.
Overall LLDPE imports reached 12,700 tonnes over the stated period, whereas this figure was 28,400 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC