June PP imports to the Republic of Belarus dropped to 6,200 tonnes from 8,800 tonnes in May. Nevertheless, PP impots to the local market rose in the first half of the year to 39,600 tonnes versus 39,000 tonnes a year earlier. Demand for propylene copolymers increased, whereas demand for propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) declined. 

 

The structure of PP consumption by grades looks the following way over the stated period. 

 

June imports of homopolymer PP fell to 4,000 tonnes from 6,000 tonnes a month earlier. The overall imports of propylene homopolymers to the local market dropped from January to June 2014 to 26,600 tonnes versus 29,100 tonnes a year earlier. Russian producers with the share of about 50% in the total imports are the key suppliers of homopolymer PP to Belarus. 

 

June imports of propylene copolymers were 2,200 tonnes (2,800 tonnes in May). Imports of propylene copolymers into Belarus increased over the said period by 31.3% and totalled about 13,000 tonnes. German producers with a share of 59% in the total imports are the main suppliers of propylene copolymers to the local market. 

 

As reported earlier, the import duty on all PP grades (imposed on 2 September 2013) will be reduced to 6.5% from the current 9.1% for homopolymer PP and 8.3% for copolymers of propylene on 1 September 2014. Imports of all PP from the CIS countries are not subject to import duty.