MOSCOW (MRC) - Russia's imports of polyamide (PA) and engineering plastics based on PA were 7,200 tonnes in January-July 2014, down 18% compared with the same time a year earlier, according to MRC DataScope.
The sharpest decline was seen in the imports of PA 6, which were 1,500 tonnes over the reported period, down 57% compared with the same time a year earlier. PA 6 is used for the production of sausage casings and multilayer packaging films. According to Rosstat, these markets in the first half of the year increased by 9% and 25% respectively.
Producers of packaging have given more preference to PA copolymers (based on PA6) because they improve barrier properties of the package. PA copolymers outperform in quality unfilled PA 6, which is used less and less. However, imports of PA copolymers decreased by 6% over the reported period to 4,200 tonnes.
The decline in demand for imported engineering plastics in the range of 5-7% is now a general trend in Russia. The main reason for this is the fall of the rouble and the high level of domestic prices, as well as a weak consumer activity in the markets of finished products.
Russia's imports of PA-emulsion were 1,000 tonnes in January-July, down 15% year on year. The main scope of the PA-emulsions - pulp and paper industry increased by 6% in the first half of the year.
Russia's imports of PA66 were 400 tonnes over the reported period, down 9% year on year. PA 66 is used for moulding of automotive components and parts in mechanical engineering.
Because of the high cost of PA66 it can be replaced by other engineering plastics. In the Russian market of PA and PA-plastics are the following types of product: unfilled PA 6 (with a share of about 20%), unfilled PA 66 (6%).
The rest volumes are divided between the PA copolymers (60%) and PA-emulsions (14%).
MRC