MOSCOW (
MRC) -- Overall imports of polyethylene (PE) into Belarus rose in the first six months of 2017 by 7.4% year on year, exceeding 61,900 tonnes. Local companies have increased the volume of purchases of all PE grades, as per MRC
DataScope.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics of Belarus, June 2017 PE imports to Belarus grew to 11,700 tonnes from 8,800 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies have increased the volume of purchases of all PE grades on a seasonal factor. Overall PE imports reached 61,900 tonnes in January-June 2017, compared to 57,600 tonnes a year earlier. The greatest increase in external supplies accounted for low density polyethylene (LDPE).
The structure of PE imports to Belarus by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
June LDPE imports grew to 3,900 tonnes from 2,800 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies increased their PE purchasing in Russia because of scheduled maintenance works at Polymir. Overall imports of this PE grade into Belarus totalled about 18,000 tonnes in the first six months of 2017, compared to 15,100 tonnes a year earlier.
An accident at the local producer's ethylene unit and, as a result, a major fall in capacity utilisation at LDPE production in the second half of the year was the main reason for such a great increase in imports. June LLDPE imports were about 4,300 tonnes versus 2,900 tonnes a month earlier. Thus, overall LLDPE imports to Belarus exceeded 21,700 tonnes in January-June 2017, whereas this figure was 24,400 tonnes a year earlier.
June HDPE imports grew to 3,500 tonnes from 2,300 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies decreased significantly their purchasing of PE from Russian producers. Overall HDPE imports into the country were about 22,100 tonnes in January-June 2017, up by 7.1% year on year.
MRC