MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall output of chemicals increased in the first six months of 2017 by 7.4%, despite lower production in May and June, according to Rosstat.
According to the Federal Service of State Statistics, last month's production of basic chemicals dropped by 1.4% from May 2017. This reduction was 1.5% a month earlier. However, production of basic chemicals grew by 7.4% year on year.
June output of ethylene was 257,000 tonnes, compared to 260,000 tonnes a month earlier, lower production in April was caused by a scheduled shutdown for maintenance at Angarsk Polymers Plant. Overall, over 1.5 m tonnes of this olefin were manufactured in the first six month of 2017, up by 10.2% year on year.
Last month's production of benzene dropped to 106,000 tonnes from 114,000 tonnes in May, which was also caused by the outage at Angarsk Polymers Plant. Overall output of this product exceeded 703,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 11.5% year on year.
June production of xylenes was 35,300 tonnes, compared to 51,400 tonnes a month earlier. 276,900 tonnes of xylenes were produced in the first six months of 2017, down by 7.8% year on year.
June production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) was 103,000 tonnes (100% of the basic substance), down by 5.2% month on month. Overall output of caustic soda grew to 617,800 tonnes in January-June 2017, up by 12.3% year on year.
Last month's production of mineral fertilizers was 1.93 mln tonnes (in terms of 100% nutrients) versus 1.91 mln tonnes in May. Nevertheless, Russian plants produced about 11 mln tonnes of fertilizers in January-June 2017, up by 11.3% year on year. Production of all types of fertilizers increased, with potash fertilizers, the output of which grew by 18%, accounted for the greatest increase.
MRC