Overall imports of polyethylene (PE) into Russia reached 543,000 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, up by 18% year on year. High density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for the greatest increase in imports, according to MRC"s DataScope report.

Russian companies raised their PE imports in September, the total figure was 70,400 tonnes versus 67,800 tonnes a months earlier. Shipments of low density polyethylene (LDPE) from Europe and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) from the USA increased. Thus, overall PE imports to Russia totalled about 543,000 tonnes in January-September 2019, compared to 460,200 tonnes a year earlier. HDPE imports increased by almost 1.5 times, whereas imports of LLDPE and other ethylene copolymers decreased.

Overall, the structure of PE imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.

Last month"s HDPE imports dropped to 34,500 tonnes from 35,900 tonnes in August, Russian companies reduced their PE shipments from Uzbekistan. Overall HDPE shipments totalled 266,900 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, compared to 181,600 tonnes a year earlier, with pipe grade and film grade HDPE accounting for the greatest increase in imports.

September LLDPE imports rose to 15,400 tonnes from 13,100 tonnes a month earlier, with LLDPE imports from the USA showing a significant rise. Overall LLDPE imports reached 127,100 tonnes over the stated period, down by 7% year on year.

Last month"s LDPE imports grew to 12,000 tonnes from 10,700 tonnes a month earlier, with Russian companies having raised their purchasing in Europe. Overall LDPE imports reached 78,500 tonnes in January-September 2019, up by 16% year on year.

September imports of ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) and other ethylene polymers were 8,500 tonnes versus 8,100 tonnes a month earlier. Overall imports of ethylene copolymers reached 70,600 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, whereas this figure was 74,100 tonnes a year earlier.

Source: MRC