MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russian producers increased polypropylene (PP) exports by 85% over the first eight months of 2014 to 119,300 tonnes. PP production capacities doubled in 2013 due to a start-up of two new plants, which helped to increase exports, according to MRC DataScope report.
Russian producers were forced to reduce their export PP sales in July and August because of a succession of scheduled outages for maintenance. PP shipments to foreign markets dropped in these months to 10,100 tonnes and 5,700 tonnes, respectively. The overall PP exports from Russia rose from January to August 2014 to 119,300 tonnes from 64,600 tonnes a year earlier. Such a major rise in export sales was possible because of the last year's launch of two new plants in Omsk and Tobolsk with the total capacity of 710,000 tonnes.
Ppropylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) accounted for the bulk of exports. Russia became a net exporter (exports exceed imports) of this PP grade. Exports of homopolymer PP rose to 115,800 tonnes over the stated period from 63,400 tonnes a year earlier.
Russia is a net importer (imports exceed exports) of propylene copolymers (block copolymers of propylene, statistical copolymers of propylene). The overall exports of propylene copolymer totalled about 3,500 tonnes from January to August 2014.
MRC