(MRC) -- In August PET imports to Russia expectedly fell by 9 KT compared to July on the back of seasonal factor which equaled to 38% reduction of import supplies, as per MRC DataScope.
In August under the pressure of a seasonal factor Russian converters and trade companies imported about 14 KT of granulates while in the previous month it made 23 KT. Supplies form South Korea reduced by 5 KT and made 6 KT. Import of Chinese granulates fell by 3 KT and made 6.6 KT.
Traditionally supplies of import products reduce in the last month of summer which depends on the end of the season. Converters start forming main stocks in March-April before a summer season. This year many market players expected record figures of last summer. Some players forecasted even bigger growth of sales in the segments of final consumption, such as non-alcoholic carbonated drinks and water. Before a feverish season during February-April market players imported about 116 KT which was 47 KT more than last year figures. Although this year bottlers' sales were affected by a late and rainy summer as well as decreased average temperature.
The market of non-alcoholic carbonated drinks didn't demonstrate expected growth. Kvas market decreased for the first time over last six years. Nevertheless, taking into account last year increased sales as an exclusion, consumption growth is pointed nearly in all sectors of PET consumption, except beer that has been stagnating for the third year.
Moving stocks contributed to surplus of stock and decreased imports in July and August. Reduction of import parameters in summer of 2011 tells about considerable overstocks of polymer.
Surplus of import feedstock also had a negative influence on sales of the Russian producers of PET. Because of indefinite situation in the market, some Russian producers preferred to reorient at export to the countries of the Western Europe. In August overall export of granulate made about 10 KT which 223 as much as last year figures and twice as much as July exports.
MRC