(ICIS-MRC) -- Russian producers have announced increase of September prices for polystyrene in the domestic market, according to ICIS-MRC Price Report. In July-August prices of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) and general-purpose polystyrene (GPPS) remained unchanged.
A number of scheduled maintenance stops in Nizhnekamsk and Salavat reduced polystyrene supplies to the Russian market, but it had insignificant impact on prices.
Last month European producers increased polystyrene export prices nearly by EUR 80 - 100/mt. Prices of domestic products in the Russian market remained RUB 60.000 - 64.000/t, including VAT, CPT Moscow, for GPPS, and RUB 64.000-66.000/t, including VAT, CPT Moscow, for HIPS.
According to many Russian market players, high demand for polystyrene in late August as well as quite high prices of imported feedstock had to result in growing price of Russian polymer nearly by RUB 2.000 - 3.000/t. In early September, the largest producer of GPPS and HIPS Nizhnekamskneftechem increased material costs nearly by RUB 2.000/t for September deliveries.
Current prices are RUB 65.000-67.000/t, including VAT, CPT Moscow, for GPPS, and RUB 67.000-69.000/t, including VAT, CPT Moscow, for HIPS.
GPPS of Gazprom neftechem Salavat is traded for RUB 60.000-61.000/t. Market players expect the producer to increase prices to RUB 62.000-62.500/t, which will keep the difference between Salavat and Nizhnekamsk materials within RUB 4.000/t. HIPS production at Gazprom neftechem Salavat restarted only last week. Now consumers may buy only natural HIPS for RUB 61.000-62.000/t. Production of white HIPS is expected to restart shortly.
GPPS by PG Prof is still poorly presented in the commercial market. Main volume of the material is processed at Penoplex, which is a producer of construction and decorative finishing materials. The rest of the material provide contract deliveries. Quotation of material remains at RUB 67.000-68.000/t.