Output of chemical products in Russia up 0.9% in January-February

MOSCOW (MRC)–Russia’s output of chemical products rose in February by 1.5% year on year, while production was up 0.9% in the first two months of 2019, according to Rosstat’s data.

While overall chems output grew in February, the production of a number of major chemicals actually fell year on year.

242 ,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced in February, compared to 275,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall, 517,000 tonnes of this olefin were produced in January-February 2019, down by 0.5% year on year.

Last month’s output of benzene was 119,000 tonnes versus 122,000 tonnes in January. Overall, benzene production reached 241,000 tonnes in the first two months of 2019, down by 4.9% year on year.

February output of caustic soda was 101,000 tonnes versus 110,000 tonnes in January. Overall production of caustic soda dropped to 211,000 tonnes over the stated period from 217,000 tonnes a year earlier.

Output of mineral fertilizers in February, meanwhile, was 1.89m tonnes versus 2.08m tonnes in January. Overall, Russian plants produced 3.97m tonnes of fertilizers in January-February 2019, up by 2.9% year on year.

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