MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall polyethylene (PE) imports into Belarus decreased in the first eleven months of 2018 by 11% year on year, reaching 100,100 tonnes. At the same time, local companies reduced purchasing of exclusively linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), according to MRC's DataScope report.
According to the National Statistics Committee of Belarus, November PE imports to Belarus virtually remained at the level of October and were 8,500 tonnes. Overall PE imports reached 100,100 tonnes in January-November 2018, compared to 112,400 tonnes a year earlier. Demand for 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.
November 2018 total LLDPE imports rose to 3,700 tonnes from 3,000 tonnes a month earlier, local companies increased their purchases in Russia on the back of the shutdown for maintenance at the local producer. Overall imports of this PE grade into Belarus totalled 35,200 tonnes in January-November 2018, which virtually corresponded to the last year's figure.
November imports of HDPE dropped to 4,400 tonnes from 5,000 tonnes in the previous month. Local companies reduced their purchasing of pipe grade PE in Saudi Arabia. Thus, overall HDPE imports totalled 50,400 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2018, up by 10.2% year on year. Overall LLDPE imports reached 13,600 tonnes over the stated period, whereas this figure was 31,600 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC