PP imports to Ukraine up 34% in Jan-Apr 2016

MOSCOW (MRC)–Overall imports of polypropylene (PP) into Ukraine grew in the first four months of 2016 by 34% year on year, totalling  39,300 tonnes. Statistical copolymers of propylene (PP-random) accounted for the greatest increase in supply, according to MRC DataScope report.

April PP imports to Ukraine exceeded 12,00 tonnes, compared to 9,700 tonnes a month earlier, all PP grades accounted for the increase in imports. Overall imports of propylene polymers rose to 39,300 tonnes in January-April 2016 from 29,300 tonnes a year ago. PP-random accounted for the greatest increase in imports, thus, pipes producers raised significantly their consumption.

The supply structure by PP grades looked the following way over the stated period.

Last month’s imports of propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) into the Ukrainian market exceeded 9,300 tonnes, whereas this figure was 7,500 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies increased their purchasing of raffia and injection moulding PP.

Overall imports of homopolymer PP rose to 30,500 tonnes over the first four months of the year, compared to 22,600 tonnes a year earlier. Such a significant increase in imports was not suppoted by demand, there has been oversupply in the market for a long time.

April imports of block copolymers of propylene (PP-block) grew to 1,100 tonnes from 1,000 tonnes a month earlier, Ukrainian companies increased procurement of pipe grade PP-block.

3,600 tonnes of block copolymers of propylene were imported from January to April 2016,  whereas this figure was 2,700 tonnes a year earlier.

Last month’s imports of PP-random to Ukraine rose by almost 1.5 times to 1,500 tonnes versus 1,000 tonnes in March, local converters raised their purchasing of pipe grade and film grade PP-random in foreign markets. Overall imports of PP-random reached 4,500 tonnes in January-April 2016, whereas this figure was 3,100 tonnes a year earlier.

Overall imports of other propylene copolymers totalled about 700 tonnes over the stated period.

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