Overall imports of polypropylene (PP) to Belarus rose in the first six months of 2019 by 12.7% year on year, totalling 55,800 tonnes. All grades of propylene polymers accounted for the increase in demand, according to a MRC"s DataScope report.

June PP imports to Belarus were 10,200 tonnes, compared to 11,500 tonnes a month earlier, with local companies reducing their purchasing of polymer in Russia. Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 55,800 tonnes in January-June 2019, compared to 49,500 tonnes a year earlier, demand increased for all PP grades, with propylene copolymers accounting for the greatest rise.

The structure of PP imports looked the following way over the stated period.

June imports of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) exceeded 5,800 tonnes, compared to 6,500 tonnes a month earlier. Overall imports of homopolymer PP reached 36,300 tonnes in January-June 2019, up by 8.3% year on year. Russian producers with the share of about 86% of the total shipments were the key suppliers.

June imports of propylene copolymers to Belarus were 4,400 tonnes versus 5,000 tonnes a month earlier, local companies reduced their procurement of injection moulding block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymer) in Russia. Thus, overall imports of propylene copolymers reached 19,500 tonnes in January-June 2019, down by 22% year on year.

Source: MRC