Jan-Aug Ukraine PVC imports down 36% year on year, exports fall 7%

MOSCOW (MRC)–Imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) into Ukraine decreased in the first eight months of 2019 by 36% year on year, while exports of the product to foreign markets fell by 7%, according to a MRC’s DataScope report.

August SPVC imports to the Ukrainian market fell to 4,300 tonnes from 6,000 tonnes in July, with US resin accounting for the main decrease in shipments.

Overall SPVC imports reached 31,300 tonnes in January-August compared to 49,100 tonnes a year earlier.

European producers with a share of around 65% of total imports were the key suppliers of resin to the Ukrainian market in the first eight months of 2019. Producers from the US with a share of around 34% were the second largest.

This year’s stronger demand for Ukrainian PVC from the domestic market led to lower exports. 14,000 tonnes of suspension were shipped to foreign markets in August, whereas this figure was 12,400 tonnes a month earlier.

Overall, 106,400 tonnes of PVC were shipped for export in January-August versus 115,000 tonnes in the same period last year.

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