GPPS and HIPS imports to Russian market up by 10% in 2019

MOSCOW (MRC)–Overall imports of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) to Russia rose in 2019 by 10% year on year to 48,200 tonnes, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

This figure was 43,800 tonnes for 2018.

December’s GPPS and HIPS imports to the Russian market dropped slightly to 3,500 tonnes from 3,600 tonnes both in the same period the previous year and the month prior.

GPPS imports to Russia grew in 2019 by 23% year on year, totalling 28,100 tonnes.  For the month imports rose to 2,500 tonnes from 2,400 tonnes in 2018. and resulted in a 2% gain on the November levels of 2,300 tonnes.

HIPS imports to the Russian Federation continued to decline for the fourth month in a row. They were 1,000 tonnes in December 2019 versus 1,200 tonnes a year earlier and 1,300 tonnes in November 2019. Imports of material dropped in 2019 by 4% year on year to 20,100 tonnes.

European material from Styrolution, Versalis and Trinseo accounted for about 90% of HIPS shipments and 62% of GPPS deliveries. Iranian GPPS of Petropaak and Artan Petro accounted for about 17% of the total imports. Iranian GPPS has not been shipped to Russia since October 2019.

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