MOSCOW (MRC) -- Over the six months, Russian producers made 329.3 KT of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that was 8% less compared to the same period last year, according to MRC analysts. In June, Russian producers made 48.5 KT of PVC, among it - 46.5 KT of suspension resin.
The most considerable reduction of resin output was observed in the second quarter that was stipulated by scheduled maintenance of Chemprom (Volgograd), Sayanskchemplast, Plastkard and Sibur-neftehim.
Also one of the reason for output decrease was a long-term ethylene price conflict between Kaustik (Sterlitamak) and Gazprom neftehim Salavat.
Rapid increase of PVC processing made the Russian market a pure net importer. Since 2005, import supplies of PVC had been exceeding exports. By 2011, a share of import PVC in the Russian market had surpassed 50%. Over the six months, overall imports only of suspension PVC exceeded 247 KT.
In late May 2011, Group of companies Lukoil launched production of suspension PVC at Karpatneftehim in Ukraine. Investments in the project (German Vinnolit technology) made more than USD 500 mln. In June, the plant made 8.85 KT of suspension PVC.
Not earlier than in 2013, the Russian-Belgium JV Rusvinyl plans to launch a new PVC plant in Nizhegorod region with capacities of 330 KTa.
MRC