MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of polyethylene (PE) into Kazakhstan increased to about 110,100 tonnes in January-August 2019, up 3% compared with the same time a year earlier. Shipments of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) increased, reported MRC analysts.
PE imports to Kazakhstan were 11,500 tonnes in August 2019, compared to 20,700 tonnes a month earlier, local companies reduced their purchases of HDPE in Uzbekistan. Total PE imports into the country were 110,100 tonnes in January - August 2019, compared with 107,100 tonnes in the same time a year earlier. LDPE and LLDPE shipments increased, whereas demand for high density polyethylene (HDPE) subsided.
The structure of PE imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
August imports of HDPE to Kazakhstan decreased to 8,400 tonnes against 17,300 tonnes a month earlier, local companies almost halved the purchase of bimodal polyethylene in Uzbekistan, and the delivery of HDPE from Turkmenistan was suspended. Thus, last year's overall HDPE imports exceeded 86,000 tonnes, down by 2% year on year.
August LDPE purchases by local companies decreased to 1,400 tonnes from 2,200 tonnes in July, local companies decreased their purchasing of PE in Russia. Overall LDPE imports into Kazakhstan totalled about 15,800 tonnes over the stated period, up by 29% year on year.
Purchasing of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) by local companies was 8,300 tonnes in the first eight months of 2019, compared to 6,900 tonnes a month earlier.
MRC