MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of polyethylene (PE) into Belarus decreased by 11% year on year in the first two months of 2019, reaching 18,000 tonnes. Local companies reduced their purchasing of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) increased, according to MRC's DataScope report.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics of Belarus, February 2019 PE imports to Belarus dropped to 8,900 tonnes from 9,200 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies reduced their HDPE purchasing in Russia and Ukraine. Overall PE imports were slightly over 18,000 tonnes in January-February 2019, compared to 20,200 tonnes a year earlier. Demand for HDPE and 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.
February 2019 total LDPE imports rose to 3,200 tonnes from 2,800 tonnes a month earlier, local companies increased their purchasing in Russia and Azerbaijan. Overall imports of this PE grade into Belarus totalled 6,100 tonnes in the first two months of 2019, up by 5% year on year.
February HDPE imports were 2,900 tonnes, compared to 4,300 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies reduced their purchasing of film grade PE in Russia and Ukraine. Thus, HDPE imports totalled 7,200 tonnes over the stated period, down by 28.3% year on year.
Overall LLDPE imports reached 4,700 tonnes in January-February 2019, whereas this figure was about 6,400 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC