PP imports to Ukraine increase by 9% in January-September year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Ukraine’s January-September polypropylene (PP) imports rose by 9% year on year with higher demand for all grades, according to MRC DataScope.

September PP imports into the country fell to 11,000 tonnes from 12,800 tonnes a month earlier, with the main decrease for shipments of homopolymer PP.

Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 97,700 tonnes in January-September compared to 89,400 tonnes a year earlier.

Demand for all PP grades increased, but PP block copolymers accounted for the greatest growth.

The structure of PP imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period:

September imports of homopolymers of propylene to the Ukrainian market decreased to 8,500 tonnes against 10,500 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies decreased the volume of purchases of homopolymer PP raffia.

Overall shipments of homopolymer PP reached 73,900 tonnes in the first nine months of 2018 versus 68,000 tonnes a year earlier.

Last month’s imports of block propylene copolymers (PP block copolymers) were 1,100 tonnes compared to 1,000 tonnes in August.

Demand for injection moulding propylene copolymers improved from local companies. Imports of PP block copolymers into the country were about 9,800 tonnes in January-September, compared with about 9,700 tonnes year on year.

September imports of PP random copolymers did not exceed 1,200 tonnes versus 1,100 tonnes a month earlier, with demand for PP increasing from injection moulding products producers.

Overall imports of PP random copolymer reached 12,400 tonnes in January-September whereas this figure was 10,100 tonnes a year earlier.

Overall imports of other propylene copolymers totalled about 1,700 tonnes over the stated period.

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