Russia’s first-quarter chemical production up 2.1%

MOSCOW (MRC)–Russia’s index of chemical production increased by 2.1% in the first quarter, year on year,  despite a month-on-moth decrease in March of 2.3%, according to statistical agency Rosstat.

In the first quarter as a whole, 783,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced, up by 1% year on year.

A total of 264,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced in March, compared to 245,000 tonnes in February.

Overall output benzene reached 389,800 tonnes over the first quarter, up by 3.5%year on year.

In March, production of benzene rose to 134,000 tonnes, from 125,000 tonnes in February.

March production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) was 112,000 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) versus 104,000 tonnes a month earlier.

Overall output of caustic soda grew to 329,000 tonnes in January-March 2018, up by 2.9% year on year.

Last month’s production of mineral fertilizers stood at 2.05m tonnes (in terms of 100% nutrients), versus 1.97m tonnes in February.

Overall, Russian plants produced about 6.03m tonnes of mineral fertilizers in the first three months of 2018, up by 4.4% year on year.

Phosphorous fertilizers accounted for the greatest increase in production – up by 7.2% year on year.

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