MOSCOW: Imports of polyethylene (PE) into Kazakhstan fell in the first 11 months of 2016 by 3% year on year to 86,200 tonnes with high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) accounting for the main reduction in demand, according to MRC analysts. November 2016 PE imports to Kazakhstan decreased to 7,800 tonnes from 8,100 tonnes a month earlier with local companies reducing their HDPE purchasing under the pressure of seasonal factors. Overall PE imports totalled 86,200 tonnes in January-November 2016 compared to 89,200 tonnes a year earlier. Demand for HDPE and LDPE subsided, whereas the need for linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) increased.
The structure of PE imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period: November HDPE imports into Kazakhstan fell to 5,900 tonnes from 6,300 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies reduced their purchasing of pipe grade HDPE in Russia and film grade HDPE in Uzbekistan. Thus, overall HDPE imports exceeded 66,000 tonnes in the first 11 months of 2016, down by 4% year on year. Last month’s LDPE purchases in foreign markets by local companies dropped to 1,300 tonnes from 1,400.
