Russia chemical products output up by 3.4% in Jan-Aug year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Russia’s production of basic chemicals increased by 3.4% year on year in the first eight months of 2019, according to official data.

Output of chemical products dropped in August 2018 by 3.7% month on month.

According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation (Rosstat), the largest increase in production volumes on an annualised basis was for mineral fertilizers and polymers in primary form.

255,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced in August, compared to 233,000 tonnes a month earlier.

Angarsk Polymers Plant and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat shut down their production capacities for maintenance in July. 2,056,000 tonnes of this olefin were produced in January-August, up by 2.5% year on year.

Benzene production in August amounted to 117,000 tonnes against 108,000 tonnes a month earlier, which was also a result of the shutdowns in Angarsk and Salavat.

Overall output of this product reached 968,000 tonnes in the first eight months of 2019, up by 0.5% year on year.

August production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) were 111,000 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) versus 97,900 tonnes a month earlier.

SayanskKhimPlast and Bashkir Soda Company shut their capacities for scheduled maintenance in July.

Overall output of caustic soda totalled 853,900 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 844,500 tonnes a year earlier.

1,939,000 tonnes of mineral fertilizers (in terms of 100% nutrients) were produced in August versus 1.99m tonnes a month earlier. Overall, Russian plants produced 16,253,000 tonnes of fertilizers in January-August, up by 3.7% year on year.

Last month’s production of polymers in primary form decreased to 734,000 tonnes, down  6.5% from July due to scheduled maintenance works at several manufacturers.

Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 5,668,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 3.4% year on year.

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