MOSCOW (MRC) - Total imports of polypropylene (PP) into Russia decreased to 104,400 tonnes in the first nine months of 2015, down 22% compared to the same period of 2014. The largest decrease occurred for PP block copolymers, as per MRC DataScope.
In September, Russian companies actually kept the August volume of PP imports, having purchased about 11,900 tonnes. Because of the shortage of affordable alternatives to imported material local companies could not increase the volume of foreign supplies of polypropylene for a period of scheduled shutdowns at Russian plants. Total PP imports in Russia decreased to 104,400 tonnes in the first nine months of this year, compared with 134,100 tonnes year on year. The largest decline in imports occurred for PP block copolymers, while imports of PP random copolymer remained at the level of 2014.
PP imports in Russia over the reported period looked as follows.
September imports of homopolymer PP decreased to 3,100 tonnes, compared with 4,100 tonnes in August because of the reduced supplies from Turkmenistan. Total imports of homopolymer PP into Russia were 38,400 tonnes in January - September 2015, compared with 45,500 tonnes year on year.
September imports of block copolymers of PP increased to 3,400 tonnes, compared with 2,000 tonnes in August on an increase in the supply of injection moulding grades. Russia's imports of PP block copolymers decreased to 21,100 tonnes over the first nine months of the year, down 40% year on year. Such a serious decline in imports resulted from the growth of domestic production, in particular by Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Stavrolen.
Imports of PP random copolymers in September were about 3,400 tonnes, compared with 3,600 tonnes in August because of an increase in purchases from the local producers of pressure PP pipes. Total PP random copolymers imports into the country were 25,300 tonnes in the first nine months of this year, which was practically equal to the same indicator in 2014. Local producers of BOPP films increased imports of PP random copolymers, while imports of injection moulding copolymers declined.
Imports of other propylene polymers for the reported period decreased to about 19,700 tonnes, compared with 27,800 tonnes in the same time a year earlier.
MRC