Russian Jan-May chemicals output up by 2.8% year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Russia’s output of chemical products rose by 2.8% year on year in the first five months of 2019, according to statistics agency Rosstat.

in April, production increased marginally by 1% year on year.

According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, ethylene accounted for the largest increase in production year on year.

262,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced last month, compared to 263,000 tonnes in April, and 1,318,000 tonnes of this olefin were produced in January-May, up by 4.1% year on year.

May production of benzene rose to 128,000 tonnes from 121,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of this product reached 618,000 tonnes in the first five months of 2019, up by 0.9% year on year.

Production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) in May was 107,000 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) versus 103,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output totalled 535,000 tonnes over the January-May period, compared to 514,800 tonnes a year earlier.

2,098,000 tonnes of mineral fertilizers (in terms of 100% nutrients) were produced in May versus 2,249,000 tonnes a month earlier.  Overall, Russian plants produced 10,404,000 tonnes of fertilizers in January-May, up by 1.6% year on year.

Last month’s production of polymers in primary forms reached 713,000 tonnes. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 3,497,000,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by only 0.8%  year on year.

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