PP imports to Russia grow almost a quarter in Jan-July

MOSCOW (MRC)– Overall imports of polypropylene (PP) into Russia rose in the first seven months of 2018 by 24% year on year to 114,900 tonnes, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

Russian companies reduced PP imports in July, which were 17,100 tonnes versus 17,600 tonnes a month earlier. Overall, 114,900 tonnes of propylene polymers were imported into Russia in January-July, compared to 92,600 tonnes a year earlier.

July imports of homopolymer PP dropped to 5,900 tonnes from 6,500 tonnes a month earlier, shipments of homopolymer PP raffia from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan decreased. Overall imports of this PP grade reached 41,600 tonnes in January-July 2018, compared to 33,300 a year earlier.

Last month’s imports of PP block copolymers were 3,800 tonnes, compared to 4,200 tonnes in June. Local companies reduced their purchasing of PP block copolymer for injection moulding in Europe. Imports of PP block copolymers into Russia rose to 28,200 tonnes in the first seven months of 2018, compared to 23,600 tonnes a year earlier.

July imports of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) were 4,300 tonnes, compared to 3,200 tonnes a month earlier, purchases from films and pressure pipes producers increased. Overall imports of this grade of propylene copolymers were 21,200 tonnes in the first seven months of 2018, compared to 16,300 tonnes a year earlier, with imports of pipe grade propylene copolymers accounting for more than a two-fold increase.

Imports of other propylene polymers totalled 23,900 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 19,200 tonnes a year earlier.

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