The cost of polystyrene goes up in Ukraine

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In the Ukrainian market, the cost of polystyrene (PS) will increase in February after a rise in quotations of such producers, as concern Stirol, Nizhnekamskneftekhim and SIBUR-Khimprom, according to MRC Price report.

In late January, representatives of concern Stirol (Gorlovka) announced an intention to increase the price offers for February. As per the preliminary information, the cost of expanded polystyrene in early February was at the level of UAH19,400-19,600/tonne. However, market participants admit the possibility of a price growth for the material in February.

Russia's largest PS producer Nizhnekamskneftekhim raised its prices by Rb2,000/tonne for Ukrainian companies for February. According to MRC data, in 2012, 35% of GPPS and 78% of HIPS consumption accounted for Nizhnekamsk material.

In January, the cost of the material was at the level of UAH20,000-20,300/tonne for GPPS and UAH20,400-20,900/tonne for HIPS. The cost of the material in the domestic market is expected to grow proportionally.

In late January, SIBUR-Khimprom (Perm) rose its quotation for February by USD70/tonne, as a result, the cost of Alphapor reached the level of USD1,970/tonne, FCA Perm. However, this week there was information that the cost of the material for the companies that had not concluded contracts yet would increase to USD2,050/tonne, FCA Perm. This increase is of the deferred nature, as the producer preserved prices in late 2012-early 2013, while the cost of the alternative - Asian - material has increased considerably.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Experts of POLIEF (SIBUR group) has assembled the main equipment for food-grade PET, the company said in its press release.

The largest equipment of PET expansion project - a device of solid phase polycondensation - was installed as part of the "PET-210" project aimed at an increase of production capacities. The height of the device is more than 30 meters.

It is a key equipment for food-grade PET. In autumn 2012, the equipment was delivered to Blagoveshchensk to the company's production site (see MRC news).

According to this project, the production capacities of PET will be increased from 140,000 tonnes to 210,000 tonnes per year, which will allow SIBUR to become the largest producer of PET in Russia.

It is expected that "PET-210" project will be completed by the end of the year.

POLIEF (Blagoveshchensk, Bashkortostan) is Russia's largest producer of polyester, the only Russian producer of terephthalic acid (PTA), one of the leading Russian producers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

SIBUR, the largest integrated gas processing and petrochemical company in Russia and the CIS countries, as well as Central and Eastern Europe, is a controlling shareholder of POLIEF.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- By January, the price situation in the Russian market of dioctylphthalate plasticizer (DOP) had stabilized after a sharp fall in prices in November. Some market participants do not exclude a price rise in the near future, according to MRC Price report.

By early February, prices of Russian DOP had remained in the range of Rb62,000-65,000/tonne, FCA, including VAT. But, according to some market participants, they are likely to grow in the near future.

In November, 2012, the change of the managing company of Perm plant (Kamteks-Khimprom) resulted in a serious drop in prices in the market. Thus, in October prices of Russian DOP were on average in the range of Rb82,000-84,000/tonne, FCA, including VAT, but in November, prices fell to the level of Rb70,000/tonne, FCA, including VAT.

Gazprom neftekhim Salavat has suspended production of DOP, and now it is shipping the remains of the material as per the January contract obligations. Some market participants do not exclude that with the resumption of production of plasticizer, Gazprom neftekhim Salavat will announce a price increase.
MRC

MOSCOW (ICIS-MRC) - European makers in February were forced to cut export prices of polypropylene for the CIS countries, according to a ICIS-MRC Price Report.

Despite the increase in the contract price of propylene in Europe, which was agreed by EUR10/tonne up from the January level, European producers were forced to reduce export prices of polypropylene for the CIS countries by EUR20-40/tonne. It resulted from the low demand and the strengthening of the euro.

The negotiation on February prices of European PP for CIS markets continued last week. Many market participants reported that they managed to get price reductions. The deals for February homopolymer of polypropylene (PP-homo) were discussed at EUR1 ,170-1, 230/tonne, FCA. The prices of block copolymers of propylene (PP-block) started from EUR1, 240/tonne, FCA.

However, many market participants are in no hurry to buy polypropylene in Europe. February's decline in the price of the European polypropylene was almost completely offset by the growing of the euro against the dollar. Since early January, the European currency has grown against the dollar by 4%.

In addition, market players refere to the prices in Asia and the Middle East. Offers for March shipments of Asian and Middle Eastern PP were voiced at USD1 ,560-1, 600/tonne, FOB.


MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - In 2012 Ukraine produced about 19,000 tonnes of polystyrene (PS), according to a MRC DataScope.

In relation to the 2011 production of polystyrene in Ukraine last year (18, 925 tonnes) was cut by 9%.

In 2012, the structure of polystyrene production in Ukraine changed. The share of expandable polystyrene (EPS) decreased from 71% in 2011 to 60% in 2012.

At the same time, the share of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS), respectively, increased from 29% in 2011 to 40% in 2012.

Similar changes have taken place due to the increase in demand for general purpose polystyrene from Russian refiners in the south region. Lower logistics costs increase the competitiveness of the material in this area.

In 2012 the volume of general purpose polystyrene made 7,505 tonnes, up 39% from 2011. Production of EPS, however, decreased by 23% and amounted to 11,350 tonnes of material.



MRC