Russia PP imports Russia up 8% in January-November

MOSCOW (MRC)–Russia’s imports of polypropylene (PP) grew to about 173,700 tonnes in first 11 months of 2018, up 8% year on year, compared to the same period of 2017, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

Russian companies slightly increased their PP imports in November to 15,200 tonnes versus 13,800 tonnes a month earlier, while shipments of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) from central Asia increased.

In general, PP imports into Russia were about 173,700 tonnes in January-November 2018, compared with 160,800 tonnes year on year. Imports of all grades of propylene polymers increased, with homopolymer PP accounting for the greatest increase in deliveries.

November imports of homopolymer PP increased to 6,100 tonnes against 3,400 tonnes a month earlier, shipments of homopolymer PP raffia from Turkmenistan increased two times. Overall imports of this PP grade reached 61,300 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2018, compared to 52,800 a year earlier.

November imports of PP block copolymers in Russia were about 3,300 tonnes against 3,800 tonnes in October on decreased demand for pipe PP. Imports of PP block copolymers into Russia rose to 43,100 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2018, compared to 41,100 tonnes a year earlier.

November imports of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) were 3,000 tonnes, compared to 2,700 tonnes a month earlier, demand for injection moulding PP increased. Total imports of PP random copolymers in Russia were 32,500 tonnes in January – November 2018, compared with 30,300 tonnes year on year.

Imports of other propylene polymers for the reported period were about 36,800 tonnes compared with 36,500 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.