November sales of EPS boards down in Ukrainian market by 20%

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sales of expandable polystyrene (EPS) boards fell in the Ukrainian market in the first half of November by 20% month of month, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

Thus, the domestic EPS boards market has been experiencing a seasonal decline in demand for finished products after a peak consumption in October.

At the same time, consumption of EPS boards decreased in the first half of November by 15% year on year, said a major converters.

As reported earlier, September sales of EPS boards rose in the Ukrainian market by 20% from August 2019.

EPS boards are widely used as heat insulating material for thermal insulation of internal and external cladding structure of the building, its foundations, basements, attics, as well as engineering systems.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of expandable polystyrene (EPS) to the Russian market grew in the first ten months of 2019 by 32% year on year to 17,700 tonnes, according to MRC's DataScope report.

This figure was 13,500 tonnes in January-October 2018.

The Finnish producer Styrochem's material accounted for 35% of the total EPS imports, the Chinese company Loyal with the share of 21% occupied the second position.

Styrochem's imports grew over the stated period by 34% year on year: from 4,610 tonnes to 6,180 tonnes. Shipments of Chinese Loyal increased by 55% year on year: from 2,400 tonnes to 3,700 tonnes.

October EPS imports to Russia fell by 20% year on year to 1,700 tonnes from 2,200 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall polypropylene (PP) imports into the Ukrainian market totalled 112,300 tonnes in the first ten months of 2019, up by only 1% year on year. Block copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) accounted for the main increase in shipments, according to MRC's DataScope report.

October PP imports into Ukraine dropped to 10,800 tonnes from 11,400 tonnes a month earlier, local companies reduced their purchasing of homopolymer of propylene (homopolymer PP) in the Middle East. Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 112,300 tonnes in January-October 2019, compared to 111,200 tonnes a year earlier. PP block copolymer accounted for the main increase in imports, whereas demand for homopolymer PP grew insignificantly.

The supply structure by PP grades looked the following way over the stated period.

October imports of homopolymer PP to the Ukrainian market fell to 7,700 tonnes because of lower purchasing in the Middle East from 8,600 tonnes a month earlier. Overall shipments of homopolymer PP reached 85,500 tonnes in the first ten months of 2019 versus 84,300 tonnes a year earlier.

Last month's imports of PP block copolymers were 1,500 tonnes, which virtually corresponds to the figure of September. 12,100 tonnes of PP block copolymers were imported over the stated period, whereas this figure was 11,100 tonnes a year earlier.

October imports of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) rose to 1,400 tonnes from 1,100 tonnes a month earlier due to stronger demand for pipe grade PP. Overall imports of PP random copolymers reached 13,200 tonnes in January-October 2019, whereas this figure was 13,900 tonnes a year earlier.

Total imports of other propylene copolymers were 2,100 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 2,000 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Pucheng Clean Energy has undertaken a planned shutdown at its polypropylene (PP) unit, according to Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the company halted operations at this plant on November 14, 2019 for maintenance. The plant is likely to remain off-line for around one week.

Located at Shaanxi province in China, the plant has a PP production capacity of 400,000 mt/year.

As MRC reported earlier, on May 28, 2018, Pucheng Clean Energy restarted its PP plant following an unplanned shutdown. The plant remaind off-line for around one week owing to technical issues. Located at Shaanxi province in China, the plant has a PP production capacity of 400,000 mt/year.

Besides, Pucheng Clean Energy shut this PP plant for an unplanned maintenance from 21 October to 12 November, 2018.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, the estimated PP consumption in the Russian market was 976,790 tonnes in January-September 2019, up by 4% year on year. Shipments of PP block copolymer and homopolymer PP increased.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Pucheng Clean Energy has undertaken a planned shutdown at its linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) unit, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the company halted operations at this plant on November 14, 2019 for maintenance. The plant is likely to remain off-line for around one week.

Located at Shaanxi province in China, the plant has a LLDPE production capacity of 300,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed earlier, in 2018, Pucheng Clean Energy conducted a two-week scheduled turnaround at its LLDPE plant in Shaanxi province from October 21.

According to MRC's DataScrope report, September LLDPE imports to Russia rose to 15,400 tonnes from 13,100 tonnes a month earlier, with LLDPE imports from the USA showing a significant rise. Overall LLDPE imports to the Russian market reached 127,100 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, down by 7% year on year.
MRC