Russia chems output rises 7.5% January-May

MOSCOW (MRC)– Russia’s output of chemical products increased by 7.5% in the first five months of the year, with the largest increases for benzene and caustic soda, according to statistics agency Rosstat.

Last month’s production of basic chemicals grew by 9.7% from May 2016, Rosstat added.

May production of ethylene was 260,000 tonnes compared with 234,000 tonnes in April on the back of scheduled maintenance works at Kazanorgsintez and Stavrolen. Overall, over 1.267 m tonnes of this olefin were manufactured in the first five month of 2017, up by 9.2% year on year.

Last month’s production of benzene grew to 114,000 tonnes from 105,000 tonnes in April on the back of shutdown at two productions. Overall output of this product exceeded 597,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 12.5%year on year. The main increase in production was provided by Angarsk Polymers Plant.

May production of xylenes was 51,400 tonnes, compared to 43,600 tonnes a month earlier. January-May output of xylenes was 241,600 tonnes, down by 3.3% year on year.

May production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) was 108,000 tonnes (100% of the basic substance), up by 9.2% year on year. Overall output of caustic soda grew to 514,800 tonnes in January-May 2017, up by 11.9% year on year.

In February 2016, due to force majeure for ethylene supply, SayanskKhimplast was forced to shut down its caustic soda production, the outage continued until July.

Last month’s production of mineral fertilizers was 1.91m tonnes (in terms of 100% nutrients), up 5.5% from April.

Nevertheless, Russian plants produced over 9.0m tonnes of fertilizers in the first five months of 2017, up by 9.9% year on year.

Production of all types of fertilizers increased, with potash fertilizers, the output of which grew by 16%, accounted for the greatest increase.

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