MOSCOW (MRC) - Russia's imports of polyamide (PA) and engineering plastics based on polyamide (PA-plastics) in the Russian market decreased to 6,200 tonnes in the first six months of the year, down 20% year on year, as per MRC DataScope report.
The main share in imports occurred for PA copolymers, with almost 60% from the total PA imports in the country. Russia's imports of PA copolymers were 3,700 tonnes in the first half of 2014, down 5% year on year. PA copolymers meant mainly glass-PA 6 and PA 66, which are the most popular material in the Russian market. The most popular brands were PA 6 and PA 66 with 30% glass fiber content. Also widely used retardant, temperature stabilizers, fillers and other high fillers. Main applications for PA copolymers are injection moulding of electrical engineering, automotive components. They are also used in the production of a barrier layer of the packaging film.
Imports of primary unfilled PA 6 in Russia usually takes about 20-22% from the total deliveries of PA and PA-plastics. Thus, Russia's imports of PA 6 were 1,300 tonnes in January-June, down 42% year on year. Pure PA 6 is most commonly used for the production of multilayer films and sausage casings.
PA-emulsions, the third largest segment in PA imports, are mainly used in the paint industry, or as the basis for adhesives, additives, mastics.
The imports of PA-emulsions took 12% from the total Russia's imports. Russia's imports of PA-emulsions were 756 tonnes in the first six months of the year, down 2% year on year.
Pure PA 66 took the smallest share from the total Russian PA market, with only 6% (352 tonnes) from the total PA imports in the first six months of 2014, down 9% year on year. PA 66 can be used for injection moulding of automotive components, electrical engineering and other parts for machinery.
Market PA and PA-plastics in Russia is very small because of the specifics of the product and high prices for it. There are a few traders work in this market because of high barriers of the market entry. Converters mostly prefer to work directly with the producers and buy imports directly themselves. The only Russian producer, Kuibyshev Azot produces unfilled PA 6 technology for processing yarn / fiber, as well as PA 6, which serves as a basis for further PA copolymers production.
MRC