MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of polyethylene (PE) into Kazakhstan decreased in the first four months of 2016 by 21% year on year, totalling 30,700 tonnes. Demand for low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) fell significantly, reported MRC analysts.
PE imports into Kazakhstan rose to 10,700 tonnes in April 2016 from 7,300 tonnes a month earlier. The increase in PE shipments was caused by seasonal factors, local pipes producers raised their purchasing considerably. Overall imports totalled 30,700 tonnes in January-April 2016 versus 38,900 tonnes a year earlier.
The structure of PE imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
April HDPE imports into Kazakhstan grew to 8,800 tonnes from 5,400 tonnes a month earlier. Local pipes producers accounted for the main increase in shipments, companies raised their PE procurement in Russia. Thus, overall HDPE imports were slightly over 22,300 tonnes in the first four months of 2016, down by 21% year on year.
Local companies reduced April LDPE imports to 1,100 tonnes from 1,500 tonnes in March. Lower imports were caused by limited export quotas of Russian producers (Russian LDPE accounted for over 95% of the local market) because of an acute shortage in their own market. Overall LDPE imports into Kazakhstan totalled 6,700 tonnes in January-April 2016, down by 23% year on year.
Local companies' purchasing of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) rose to 826 tonnes in April, compared to 320 tonnes a month earlier. LLDPE imports were 1,700 tonnes in January-April 2016, compared to 1,800 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC