MOSCOW (MRC) -- The external supply of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) to Russia decreased by 3% (15,900 tonnes) in October, compared with the September level (16,400 tonnes), reaching the bottom since March 2010, according to MRC DatatScope.
The main reason for such a serious drop in imports was the weakening demand. Russian companies actively increased the volume of PVC imports in the beginning of the year. Russia's SPVC imports hit the record in March with more than 58,000 tonnes, declining after which on the back of weakening demand from the major consuming sectors. Total Russia's SPVC imports in the first ten months of the year exceeded 334,000 tonnes, down by 4% year on year.
The structure of SPVC imports to Russian in october was as follows. October imports of US resin fell to 4,700 tonnes, compared to 8,000 tonnes in September. Russia's import of US resin hit the record in March with more than 25,000 tonnes. Total imports of US resin to Russia was about 162,800 tonnes in the first ten months of 2013, compared with 157,500 tonnes year on year.
Chinese producers, on the contrary, managed to increase the imports of resin last month to 6,900 tonnes, from 4,500 tonnes in September.
Total imports of Chinese resin to Russia grew to 125,900 tonnes in the first ten months of the year, from 79,500 tonnes year on year.
Such significant increase in imports from China resulted from the decline in the production of K 70 PVC by the Russian producers (SIBUR-Neftekhim shut production in April).
European producers also increased slightly their PVC delivery in October to 3,200 tonnes, from 2,700 tonnes in September. In general, total imports of European SPVC decreased to 33,200 tonnes in January - October 2013, from 35,800 tonnes in the same period a year earlier.
Imports of US PVC is expected to be increased in November on the back of significant decline of export prices.
MRC