MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of polyethylene (PE) into the Ukrainian market dropped in 2018 by 1% year on year to 244,400 tonnes.
At the same time, only the high density polyethylene (HDPE) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) segments accounted for a reduction in imports, according to MRC's DataScope report.
Last month's PE imports to Ukraine rose to 22,300 tonnes from 21,900 tonnes in November, with low density polyethylene (LDPE) and HDPE accounting for a slight increase in imports. Overall PE imports reached 244,400 tonnes in January-December 2018, compared to 247,600 tonnes a year earlier. Imports of HDPE and EVA decreased, whereas demand for other ethylene polymers increased noticeably.
The structure of PE imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period. Last month's HDPE imports increased to 9,000 tonnes from 7,300 in November, with injection moulding and blow moulding grade PE accounting for the reduction in shipments. Overall HDPE imports reached 79,300 tonnes in 2017, compared to 96,700 tonnes a year earlier. Fim grade and pipe grade HDPE accounted for the greatest decrease in imports, which was 53% and 12%, respectively.
December imports of low density polyethylene (LDPE) rose to 7,300 tonnes from 6,400 tonnes a month earlier, local companies increased their LDPE purchases in Russia. Overall LDPE imports reached 76,300 tonnes over the stated period, up by 10% year on year.
Last month's imports of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) were 5,500 tonnes versus 6,600 tonnes in November, local producers of film products cut their purchasing. Last year's overall LLDPE imports grew to 73,700 tonnes from 66,100 tonnes a year earlier. Local films producers accounted for the main increase in imports.
Imports of other PE grades, including ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA), totalled 15,100 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 15,600 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC