PP imports into Ukraine increase 26% in January-March 2016

MOSCOW (MRC)–Imports of polypropylene (PP) into Ukraine increased to about 27,300 tonnes in first three months of this year, up 26% year on year, compared to the same period of 2015, according to MRC DataScope on Wednesday.

The greatest increase in external deliveries occurred for homopolymer PP, imports of propylene copolymers showed less significant growth.

March PP imports into Ukraine rose to 9,700 tonnes, compared with 8,900 tonnes in February; the main increase occurred for the supply of homopolymer PP.

Structure of PP supplies over the reported period looked as follows.

March imports of homopolymer PP into the Ukrainian market slightly exceeded 7,500 tonnes, while a month earlier this figure was 6,600 tonnes. Local companies increased the volume of purchases of raffia and injection moulding polypropylene.

Ukraine”s homopolymer PP imports increased to 21,200 tonnes in January-March 2016, against 16,200 tonnes year on year. PP import volumes exceeded the current market demand for polypropylene, which was a result of the desire of some companies to build up a cheaper stocks ahead of high demand for finished products and a rise in PP prices in the world markets

March imports of PP block copolymers into the country increased to 1,000 tonnes compared with 800 tonnes in February; Ukrainian companies increased the procurement of injection moulding PP block copolymers. Jan-Mar imports of PP block copolymers were about 2,500 tonnes, compared with 2,300 tonnes year on year.

March imports of PP random copolymers into Ukraine decreased tO 1,000 tonnes, compared with 1,300 tonnes in February; local converters increased their imports of pipe PP random copolymers. Total imports of PP random copolymers into Ukraine exceeded 3,000 tonnes in January-March, compared with 2,600 tonnes year on year.

Total imports of other propylene copolymers in the reporting period were about 507 tonnes.

MRC, a partner of ICIS, produces polymers news and pricing reports from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.