MOSCOW (MRC) -- The overall imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) totalled 71,500 tonnes over the first five months of 2015, down by 27% year on year. Film grade and pipe grade polyethylene (PE) accounted for the greatest fall in imports, according to MRC DataScope report.
In May, Russian companies virtually maintained the April volume of HDPE imports, it was 14,400 tonnes. The overall HDPE imports were 71,500 tonnes from January to May 2015 versus 98,500 tonnes a year earlier. All consumption sectors, except for injection moulding sector, accounted for lower imports, while pipe grade and film grade PE accoutned for the largest decrease in imports.
The supply structure by consumption sectors looks the following way over the stated period.
Last month's imports of HDPE for pipe extrusion rose to 1,700 tonnes from 900 tonnes in April. Russian companies increased their PE purchasing in foreign markets on the back of the rouble strengthening, but in most cases they faced limited export quotas from European and Asian producers. The overall imports of pipe grade PE into Russia totalled 7,400 tonnes over the first five months of 2015 versus 24,300 tonnes a year earlier. Weak demand for finished products and high HDPE prices in foreign markets compared with Russian producers' prices were the key factors that affected imports negatively.
May imports of HDPE for extrusion coating of large diameter steel pipes rose to 6,400 tonnes from 3,600 tonnes a month earlier. The overall imports of this PE grade decreased to 24,700 tonnes over the stated period from 26,700 tonnes over the same period of 2014. The main reason for that was the increased domestic production of this PE grade by Metakley.
Las month's imports of injection moulding HDPE fell to 3,200 tonnes from 5,800 tonnes in April partially because of lower shipments from Uzbekistan and weaker demand from local producers of caps for PET containers. Imports of injection moulding PE increased to 20,200 tonnes from January to May 2015, up by 1% year on year.
May imports of HDPE for extrusion blow moulding (EBM) totalled 1,200 tonnes versus 2,500 tonnes a month earlier because of lower supplies from Uzbekistan. The overall imports of this PE grade to Russia were about 11,000 tonnes over the said period versus 14,500 tonnes a year earlier.
The overall imports of HDPE to other consumption sectors, including the film extrusion sector, totalled 8,300 tonnes from January to May 2015 versus 13,100 tonnes in 2014.
MRC