PP imports to Ukraine down by 4% in Jan-May 2017

MOSCOW (MRC)–Overall imports of polypropylene (PP) into the Ukrainian market decreased in the first five months of 2017 by 4% year on year to 46,600 tonne, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

May PP imports to Ukraine rose to 9,400 tonnes from 8,700 tonnes a month earlier, with the propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) and block propylene copolymers (PP block copolymers) accounting for a slight increase in shipments. Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 46,600 tonnes in January-May 2017, compared to 48,400 tonnes a year earlier. PP block copolymers accounted for the increase in imports, whereas demand for statistical propylene copolymers (PP random copolymers) and homopolymer PP subsided.

Last month’s imports of homopolymer PP to the Ukrainian market grew to 6,800 tonnes from 6,400 tonnes in April. Local companies offset a shortage of PP from European producers by higher shipments from Russia. Overall shipments of homopolymer PP reached 35,400 tonnes in the first five months of 2017 versus 37,300 tonnes a year earlier.

May imports of PP block copolymers were over 1,200 tonnes, compared to 900 tonnes a month earlier, demand for injection moulding propylene copolymers increased. Over 5,000 tonnes of PP block copolymers were imported over the stated period, whereas last year’s figure was 4,600 tonnes. Local pipes producers accounted for the greatest increase in demand.

Last month’s imports of PP random copolymers virtually remained at the level of April and were 1,200 tonnes. Overall imports of PP random copolymers exceeded 5,000 tonnes in January-May 2017, whereas this figure was 5,600 tonnes last year.

Overall imports of other propylene copolymers totalled about 1,000 tonnes over the stated period.

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