Russia PVC imports fall 11% Jan-May

MOSCOW (MRC)–Imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) into Russia totaled 23,600 tonnes in the first five months of 2017, down by 11% year on year, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

May SPVC imports rose to 11,800 tonnes from 7,000 tons a month earlier, local companies further increased their purchasing of acetylene resin in China.Overall SPVC imports to Russia were 23,600 tonnes in January-May 2017, compared to 26,300 tonnes a year earlier. Russian producers also reduced their exports.

Chinese producers traditionally have been the key foreign PVC suppliers for the past several years. Last month’s imports of Chinese acetylene resin grew to 11,200 tonnes from  6,700 tonnes a month earlier.

Export prices of Chinese resin have been relatively steady for the past several months, and the strong rouble made it more affordable in comparison with Russian producers’ material.

European producers shipped small quantities of suspension, whereas shipments from the US have been virtually completely absent since the beginning of the year.

It is also worth noting that given the strengthening the rouble exchange rate and protective measures from some countries (Ukraine has banned imports of resin from RusVinyl and Kaustik Volgograd since April), Russian producers were forced to gradually reduce their PVC exports.

May exports of Russian resin (excluding supplies to Belarus and Kazakhstan) decreased to 1,600 tonnes from 2,200 tonnes a month earlier. Thus, 31,600 tonnes of SPVC were shipped to foreign markets over the stated period, down by 1% year on year.

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