Russia’s PP imports up 4% in January-November

MOSCOW (MRC)–Overall imports of polypropylene (PP) into Russia grew in January-November by 4% year on year to 160,800 tonnes, according to a MRC DataScope report.

In general, imports of PP into Russia totalled 160,800 tonnes in January-November 2017, compared with 154,800 tonnes year on year.

A serious reduction in external supplies was seen for homopolymer PP, while the largest increase in imports accounted for PP block copolymers.

November imports of PP into Russia increased to 16,300 tonnes against 20,700 in October, the decrease accounted for homopolymer PP raffia grade and PP block copolymers.

November imports of homopolymer PP decreased to 4,500 tonnes against 7,500 tonnes a month earlier, shipments of homopolymer PP raffia from Central Asia decreased significantly, in particular from Turkmenistan because of the preventive downtime of the local producer.

Overall imports of this PP grade reached 57,200 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2017, compared to 68,400 a year earlier.

November imports of PP block copolymers in Russia decreased to about 3,300 tonnes against 5,200 tonnes in October.

Local companies reduced their purchasing of PP block copolymers for  non-pressure pipes extrusion and injection moulding in Europe.

Imports of PP block copolymers into Russia reached 41,100 tonnes in January-November 2017, compared to 28,800 tonnes a year earlier.

Russia’s imports of PP random copolymers in November were about 3,600 tonnes against 3,800 tonnes a month earlier on a seasonal factor local producers of pressure pipes reduced the purchase of PP.

Total imports of PP random copolymers in Russia were 30,400 tonnes in January-November, compared with 31,200 tonnes year on year.

Imports of other propylene polymers for the reported period increased to about 36,500 tonnes compared with 26,500 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.