MOSCOW (MRC) -- Last year's imports of polyethylene (PE) into Kazakhstan grew in 2018 by 10% year on year, totalling 133,600 tonnes. Only shipments of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) increased, reported MRC analysts.
PE imports to Kazakhstan were 11,200 tonnes in December 2018, compared to 11,700 tonnes a month earlier, local companies reduced their purchases of HDPE in Russia. Overall PE imports totalled 133,600 tonnes in 2018, compared to 121,400 tonnes a year earlier. HDPE and LLDPE shipments increased, whereas demand for low density polyethylene (LDPE) subsided.
The structure of PE imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
December HDPE imports to Kazakhstan decreased to 8,300 tonnes from 9,300 tonnes a month earlier, local companies reduced their purchases of black pipe grade PE in Russia. Thus, last year's overall HDPE imports exceeded 105,200 tonnes, up by 14% year on year.
Purchasing of LDPE by local companies virtually remained in the last month of 2018 at the level of November, totalling 1,600 tonnes. Overall LDPE imports to Kazakhstan were 17,500 tonnes over the stated period, down by 19% year on year.
Purchasing of LLDPE by local companies was 10,800 tonnes in 2018, compared to 7,200 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC