Chemical production in Russia grows by 8.5% in first two months of 2017

MOSCOW (MRC)–The index of chemical production in Russia grew by 8.5% in the first two months of 2017, according to Rosstat’s data on Thursday.

According to the Federal Service of State Statistics, production of basic chemicals grew by 0.5% in comparison with the February 2016 index with benzene accounting for the greatest increase in production.

Despite the year-on-year increase, production of benzene dropped to 117,000 tonnes in February from 130,000 tonnes in January. Overall output of benzene exceeded 247,000 in the first two months of the year, up by 6.4% year on year.

238,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced in February, compared to 251,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall, over 505,000 tonnes of ethylene were manufactured in January-February, up by 1% year on year.

February production of xylols decreased to 44,000 tonnes, compared to 57,200 tonnes a month earlier. January-February output of xylols was 101,200 tonnes, up by 0.4% year on year.

February production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) was 95,900 tonnes, down 13.4% year on year. January-February output of caustic soda totalled 197,900 tonnes, up by 9% year on year.

February production of mineral fertilizers was 1.71m tonnes (in terms of 100% nutrients), down 8.7% from the January level. Russia’s production of mineral fertilizers in the first two months of the year exceeded 3.54m tonnes, which was 10.8% higher than in 2016.

Production of all types of fertilizers increased in the stated period, with most increase accounted for potash fertilizers, which output grew by 15.1%.

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