MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of polyethylene (PE) into Belarus grew by 2.2% year on year in the first eight months of 2019, reaching 87,400 tonnes. Only high density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for the increase in shipments, according to MRC's DataScope report.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics of Belarus, PE imports to Belarus rose slightly in August 2019 to 12,300 tonnes from 12,100 tonnes a month earlier. Overall PE imports totalled 87,400 tonnes in January-August 2019, compared to 85,500 tonnes a year earlier. Demand for linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) subsided significantly, whereas demand for imported HDPE increased.
The structure of PE imports to Belarus by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
August 2019 total low density polyethylene (LDPE) imports dropped to 3,300 tonnes from 3,600 tonnes a month earlier, local companies reduced their purchasing in Russia. Overall imports of this PE grade into Belarus totalled 26,800 tonnes in the first eight months of 2019, which virtually corresponded to the last year's figure.
August HDPE imports were 7,200 tonnes, compared to 7,400 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies reduced their purchasing of film grade PE in Ukraine. Thus, HDPE imports totalled about 44,700 tonnes in January-August 2019, up by 21.3% year on year.
Overall LLDPE imports reached 15,800 tonnes in January-August 2019, whereas this figure was 21,900 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC