Imports of PP into Russia drop 7% January-August

MOSCOW (MRC)–Russia’s imports of polypropylene (PP) decreased to about 108,800 tonne in first eight months of this year, down 7% compared to the same period of 2016. according to  MRC’s DataScope report.

Russia companies decreased PP imports to 16,200 tonnes last month from 16,700 tonnes in July. A significant reduction of supply of homopolymer PP raffia from Central Asia was offset by increased demand for propylene block copolymer (PP block copolymer).

In general, PP imports into Russia totalled 108,800 tonnes in January-August 2017, compared with 117,500 tonnes year on year. The reduction in external supplies was seen only for homopolymer PP and PP random copolymers, while imports of PP block copolymers and other propylene copolymers, on the contrary, increased.

August imports of homopolymer PP into the country decreased to 3,800 tonnes, compared with 7,200 tonnes in July. Local companies decreased their shipments of homopolymer PP raffia grade from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Overall imports of this PP grade reached 37,100 tonnes in the first eight months of 2017, compared to 55,900 a year earlier.

August imports of PP block copolymers in Russia increased to about 5,300 tonnes against 3,200 tonnes in July. Local companies reduced their purchasing of PP block copolymers for  non-pressure pipes extrusion and injection moulding. Imports of PP block copolymers into Russia reached 28,900 tonnes in January-August 2017, compared to 21,100 tonnes a year earlier.

Imports of PP random copolymer in August rose to 3,000 tonnes against 2,700 tonnes a month earlier, amid good demand, local companies increased the volume of purchases of polypropylene for pipe production. Total imports of PP random copolymers in Russia were 19,300 tonnes in January – August 2017, compared with 22,400 tonnes year on year.

Imports of other propylene polymers for the reported period increased to about 23,400 tonnes compared with 18,000 tonnes in the same time a year earlier.

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