Russia chems output grows 2.7% January-September

MOSCOW (MRC)–Russia’s output of chemical products rose 2.7% year on year in the first nine months of 2018, according to data from statistics agency Rosstat.

Benzene accounted for the greatest increase in the output during the period, while basic chemicals production dropped 1% month on month in September, according to the Federal Service of State Statistics.

232,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced in September versus 243,000 tonnes a month earlier, as Kazanorgsintez and Ufaorgsintez’s production capacities were shut down for maintenance last month. 2.23m tonnes of the olefin were produced in the first nine months of 2018, up by 4.5% year on year.

Last month’s production of benzene dropped to 104,000 tonnes from 115,000 tonnes in August. However, overall output of this product reached 1.07m tonnes in January-September, up by 6.6% year on year.

September production of caustic soda was 102,000 tonnes versus 108,000 tonnes a month earlier, as Bashkir Soda Company reduced its capacity utilisation. Overall production of caustic soda grew to 946,500 tonnes in January-September, up by 3.5% year on year.

Last month’s output of mineral fertilizers was 1.76m tonnes versus 1.82m tonnes in August, while Russian plants produced 17.22m tonnes of mineral fertilizers in the first nine months of 2018, up by 1.9% year on year.

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