Brazil’s imports of plastic resins soared by 26% to USD 1.39 bn (EUR 1.02 bn) in the first half of 2013 compared with the same period in 2012, driven by a strong rise in PE imports, according to national plastics processing industry association Abiplast (Sao Paulo / Brazil; www.abiplast.org.br). Exports of plastic resins fell by 16% to USD 914m.

The largest share of imports, 25%, came from the NAFTA region excluding Mexico, while 18% came from the Mercosur region, 16% from non-Mercosul countries in Latin America and 10% from the EU. Abiplast said imports of LDPE jumped by 48% to USD 109m, while LLDPE rose by 25% at USD 281m and HDPE was 35% higher at USD 239m. Imports of PVC grew by 19% to USD 306m with PP increasing by 12% to USD 234m.

The strengthening of the Brazilian automotive industry is helping to support the country’s plastics processing sector, the association said. Consumption of converted plastics increased by 6.7% to BRL 29.3 bn (EUR 9.8 bn) in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2012, while production of plastic products rose by 4.6%. However, for the full year, Abiplast is forecasting only a 1.5% rise in production as the basis for comparison was stronger in the second half of 2012. The processing sector began recuperating from August 2012, it explained.

Converter's production growth in the first half of 2013 was boosted by a 7.5% rise in laminates output. However, production of plastic packaging, which registered the strongest growth in 2012, increased by only 2%.