Russia’s PP output increases 2% in January-October

MOSCOW (MRC)–Production of polypropylene (PP) in Russia grew to about 1.16m tonnes in the January-October period, up 2% year on year, according to MRC ScanPlast.

The companies which increased their production the most were SIBUR Tobolsk and Tomskneftekhim, while Neftekhimiya, Stavrolen and Nizhnekamskneftekhim posted decreasing rates of production.

October PP production in the country increased to 108,000 tonnes, compared with 90,100 tonnes in September, with Ufaorgsintez and SIBUR Tobolsk increasing their capacity utilisation.

The largest producer of PP in Russia – Tobolsk-Polymer (SIBUR) – posted in October a PP production of 46,900 tonnes against 25,600 tonnes in September, a month in which the company suffered technical problems.

SIBUR Tobolsk’s PP production exceeded 418,000 tonnes in January-October 2017, up 12% year on year.

Nizhnekamskneftekhim decreased capacity utilisation in October and total polypropylene production decreased to 14,200 tonnes against 16,000 tonnes in September. The producer’s PP production in January-October decreased by 3% from last year’s level to 175,300 tonnes.

Omsk Poliom (Titan) in October produced about 13,400 tonnes compared to 18,000 tonnes a month earlier. The decrease in production volumes was a result of the shutdown at the end of the month for preventive maintenance.

Total PP production at the plant over the reported period was about 174,400 tonnes, up 4% year on year.

Tomskneftekhim increased production volumes in October, and the final production of propylene polymers was 11,400 tonnes against 10,200 tonnes in September. Total PP production at Tomskneftekhim over the reported period reached 116,400 tonnes, compared with 105,900 tonnes year on year.

Ufaorgsintez’s PP production in October reached about 10,400 tonnes against 6,800 tonnes in September (in the middle of the month the enterprise shut its capacity for 12-day maintenance works).

The producer’s PP output at Ufaorgsintez increased to 102,300 tonnes in January-October 2017 compared with 101,000 tonnes year on year.

Neftekhimiya (Kapotnya) decreased capacity utilisation in October, total polypropylene production had decreased to 10,600 tonnes against 11,800 tonnes in September.

The producer’s PP output in the ten months of the year reached 86,700 tonnes, up 20% year on year. A low indicator of the current year was a result of a long scheduled maintenance works in March-April.

Stavrolen (LUKOIL) only at the end of last month resumed production of polypropylene after a long scheduled maintenance works, which began on 6 September. The company produced more than 1,000 tonnes of PP in just a few remaining days of October. Overall PP production at the plant reached 85,000 tonnes in January-October, down 8% year on year.

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