MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) into Russia grew in January-February 2020 by 25% year on year to 56,600 tonnes. Pipe grade and film and extrusion blow moulding grade polyethylene (PE) accounted for the greatest increase in imports, according to MRC's DataScope report.
February imports of high density polyethylene increased to 28,900 tonnes compared with 27,700 tonnes in January. Overall HDPE imports reached 56,700 tonnes in January-February 2020 versus 45,200 tonnes a year earlier. HDPE deliveries in all processing sectors increased, but the largest increase in imports came from pipe and blow HDPE.
The structure of PE imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
February film HDPE imports exceeded 9,300 tonnes from 8,800 tonnes a month earlier, shipments from Uzbekistan and USA increased. Overall external supply of HDPE in the country grew to 18,100 tonnes in the first two months of 2020, up by 12% year on year.
February imports of extrusion blow moulding HDPE rose to 6,400 tonnes, compared with 6,300 tonnes in January. Total imports of blow moulding HDPE in the country reached 12,700 tonnes in Jan-February 2020, up 56% year on year.
February injection moulding HDPE imports increased to 5,500 tonnes from 4,600 tonnes a month earlier. Overall injection moulding HDPE imports totalled 10,100 tonnes in the first two months of the year, up by 21% year on year.
February imports of pipe HDPE into the country increased to 3,000 tonnes, compared with 5,100 tonnes in January. on a stronger purchases of natural HDPE from Turkmenistan. The overall imports of other ethylene polymers reached 8,100 tonnes over the stated period versus 5,300 tonnes a year earlier.
Overall imports of other grades of HDPE to Russia were 7,600 tonnes in January-February 2020 compared to 7,200 tonnes year earlier.
MRC