Russia’s PVC exports rise 68% in January-February, imports up 19%

MOSCOW (MRC)–Imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) into Russia totalled 3,700 tonnes in January-February 2018, up 19% year on year, while exports rose by 68% to 36,000 tonnes, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

February SPVC imports dropped to 1,300 tonnes from 2,500 tonnes a month earlier.

Higher export prices for acetylene PVC in China was the main reason for the decrease in imports last month.

At the same time, very weak demand from the domestic market and high level of capacity utilisation of local producers forced Russian producers to ship resin more actively for export this year.

Chinese producers traditionally have been the key foreign PVC suppliers for the past several years.

Imports of acetylene Chinese resin slumped in February to 800 tonnes from 2,400 tonnes a month earlier due to higher export prices.

Overall imports of resin from China were 3,200 tonnes in the first two months of 2018, compared to 2,700 tonnes a year earlier.

A major decrease in demand for PVC from the domestic market in winter months forced Russian producers to export material more actively this year. About 17,000 tonnes were shipped to foreign markets last month (excluding deliveries to the countries of the Customs Union) versus 19,000 tonnes in January.

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