Russia’s Jan-Feb polyproylene imports down 4% year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Russia’s imports of polypropylene (PP) decreased to about 21,600 tonne in first two months of this year, down 4% year on year, with shipments of propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) slumping, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

Last month, Russian companies increased PP imports because of low prices in foreign markets and a strengthening of the rouble against the dollar.

February PP imports into Russia were about 12,100 tonnes compared with 9,500 tonnes in January.

In general, PP imports into Russia totalled 21,600 tonnes in January-February 2017, compared with 22,400 tonnes year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP decreased significantly, while imports of propylene copolymers on the contrary increased.

PP imports in Russia over the reported period looked as follows:

February imports of homopolymer PP into the country grew to 3,900 tonnes, compared with 2,600 tonnes in January. Local companies significantly increased homopolymer PP raffia imports from Central Asia. Total imports homopolymer PP raffia grade into Russia exceeded 6,400 tonnes in January – February 2017, compared with 10,100 year on year.

February imports of PP block copolymers in Russia increased to 3,500 tonnes against 2,700 tonnes in January. Local companies increased purchases of PP block copolymers for extrusion of pipes. Total imports of PP block copolymers into the country reached to 6,400 tonnes in January-February 2017, compared with 4,800 tonnes year on year.

Imports of  stat-propylene copolymers (PP-random) in February slightly exceeded 2,500 tonnes against 2,000 tonnes in January. Low seasonal demand for finished products forced local producers of pressure pipes to decrease purchases of PP random copolymers in the foreign markets, while demand for film copolymers increased.

Total imports of PP random copolymers in Russia were 4,400 tonnes in January-February 2017, compared with 3,800 in the same period last year.

Imports of other propylene polymers for the reported period increased to about 4,400 tonnes compared with 3,700 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.