PP imports to Ukraine up by 1% in January-August

MOSCOW (MRC)–Overall imports of polypropylene (PP) into the Ukrainian market increased in the first eight months of 2017 by 1% year on year to 80,100 tonne, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

August PP imports into Ukraine rose to about 12,400 tonnes, compared with 10,600 tonnes in July. The main increase accounted for the supply of moulding homopolymer PP raffia grade.

Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 80,100 tonnes in January-August 2017, compared to 79,300 tonnes a year earlier. The growth of external supplies accounted on PP block copolymers, while demand for other types of polypropylene either declined or remained at the level of the previous year.

Last month’s imports of homopolymer PP to the Ukrainian market grew to 9,900 tonnes from 7,800 tonnes in July. The main increase in deliveries fell on polypropylene from Saudi Arabia and Russia. Imports of homopolymer PP into the country over the eight months reached 61,500 tonnes, which corresponds to the same period in 2017.

August imports of PP block copolymers were about 1,100 tonnes, compared to 1,400 tonnes a month earlier, demand for pipe and injection moulding propylene copolymers subsided.

Imports of PP block copolymers into the country were about 8,600 tonnes in January-August, compared with 7,500 tonnes year on year. Local pipes producers accounted for the greatest increase in demand.

Last month’s imports of PP random copolymers virtually remained at the level of July and were 1,300 tonnes.

Overall imports of PP random copolymers exceeded 8,600 tonnes in January-August 2017, whereas this figure was 9,100 tonnes a year earlier.

Total imports of other propylene copolymers over the reporting period were about 1,400 tonnes, compared with 1,500 tonnes in the same time a year earlier.

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