Russia chemical production increased by 3.7% in Q1 year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Production of basic chemicals in Russia in the first quarter increased by 3.7% year on year.

The growth in production was seen in all basic chemical products, with the exception of caustic soda and xylenes, according to Rosstat’s data.

Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation said Russia”s ethylene production in March was 253,000 tonnes, compared with 234,000 tonnes in February. Total production of ethylene in Russia in January-March 2016 exceeded 753,000 tonnes, up 5.9% year on year.

Benzene output in March increased to 105,000 tonnes, compared with 95,100 tonnes in February. Total benzene production over the first three months of the year was 315,100 tonnes, up only 0.4% from the same period in 2015.

March production of xylenes in the country remained at the level of February and reached 47,400 tonnes. Production of xylenes in January-March 2016 totalled 145,500 tonnes, up 5.6% year on year.

March production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) increased to 95,600 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) against 81,600 tonnes in February. Total production of caustic soda exceeded 276,000 tonnes in January – March of this year, down 4.1% year on year on the back of unscheduled shutdown at SayanskKhimPlast.

March production of mineral fertilizers was 1.831m tonnes (in terms of 100% nutrients), up 12.1% from the February’s level.

Russia’s production of mineral fertilizers in January-March 2016 was about 5.3m tonnes, 5.4% higher than in the same time a year earlier. Production of all types of fertilizers grew, with the exception of potash production, which declined by 1.2%.

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