PP imports to Ukraine rose 31% in the first nine months of 2016

MOSCOW (MRC)–Overall imports of polypropylene (PP) into Ukraine grew in the first nine months of 2016 by 31% year on year, totalling about 88,000 tonnes, with statistical propylene copolymers (PP-random) accounting for the greatest increase in supply, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

September PP imports to Ukraine dropped to 8,600 tonnes from 10,700 tonnes a month earlier, with propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) and PP-random accounting for a decrease in shipments.

Overall imports of propylene polymers grew in January-September 2016 to 88,000 tonnes, compared to 67,100 tonnes a year earlier. PP-random accounted for the largest increase in imports, and imports of homopolymer PP also increased significantly.

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

Last month’s imports of homopolymer PP to the Ukrainian market fell to 6,400 tonnes, whereas this figure was 7,900 tonnes in August. Local companies reduced their purchasing of homopolymer PP of raffia grade.

Overall supply of homopolymer PP exceeded 67,600 tonnes in the first nine months of 2016, compared to 51,300 tonnes a year earlier.

September imports of propylene block copolymers (PP block copolymers) remained almost at the level of August and totalled about 1,000 tonnes. Overall imports of PP block copolymers exceeded 8,500 tonnes in January-September 2016, whereas this figure was 7,100 tonnes a year earlier.

Last month’s imports of PP-random to Ukraine fell below 1,000 tonnes from 1,500 tonnes in August, local converters reduced almost three-fold their purchasing of pipe grade PP in foreign markets.

Overall imports of PP-random exceeded 10,000 tonnes in January-September 2016, whereas this figure was 7,000 tonnes a year earlier. Overall imports of other copolymers of propylene totalled 1,900 tonnes in the first nine months of the year.

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