Russia Jan-Oct chemicals production up by 5.6% year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Overall output of chemicals in Russia grew in the first 10 months of 2017 by 5.6% year on year, with mineral fertilizers accounting for the greatest increase, according to statistical agency Rosstat.

Last month’s production of basic chemicals rose by 2.6% from September.

Output of basic chemicals went up by 5.6% year on year in January-October, with chemical fertilizers accounting for the greatest increase in production, and ethylene – for the lowest growth.

October output of ethylene was 205,000 tonnes, compared to 173,000 tonnes a month earlier.

Last month’s low production was caused by a scheduled shutdown for maintenance at Kazanorgsintez. Overall, more than  2.35m tonnes of this olefin were produced in the first 10 months, up by 2.8% year on year.

Last month’s production of benzene increased to 114,000 tonnes from 94,600 tonnes in September, which was also caused by the outage at Kazanorgsintez and Nizhnekamskneftekhim.

Overall output of this product exceeded 1.12m tonnes over the stated period, up by 6%year on year.

October production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) was 109,000 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) versus 99,400 tonnes a month earlier.

RusVinyl increased its output slightly last month. Overall output of caustic soda grew to 1.01 tonnes in the first 10 months, up by 8% year on year.

Last month’s production of mineral fertilizers was 1.88m tonnes (in terms of 100% nutrients) versus 1.77m tonnes in September.

However, Russian plants produced 18.24m tonnes of fertilizers in January-October, up by 9.3% year on year.

Production of all types of fertilizers increased, with potash fertilizers, the output of which grew by 13.8%, accounting for the greatest increase.

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