Investments in Russian 2016 polycarbonate processing down 75% year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Investments in polycarbonate (PC) processing capacities in Russia fell by 75% in 2016 compared to the level of 2015.

The total amount of investments in equipment for PC processing in Russia amounted to $700,000 versus $2.8m a year earlier, according to the MRC annual report “PC in Russia – 2017”.

Investments in the processing of PC fell on the background of a decline in the overall level of consumption of material in the country.

The share of investments in equipment for extrusion PC processing amounted to 49% last year.

The share of investment in the casting line was 11%. Investments in the processing of blow moulding PC accounted for 13% of the total investment.

In terms of capacity in the past year in the Russian market, the decline was 90%. The total capacity increase in 2016 was 450 tonnes, against 4,450 tonnes of growth a year earlier.

Over the past 5 years, the maximum level of investment in equipment reached in 2014 and amounted to $18m, of which 97% was accounted for by extrusion lines.

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