MOSCOW (MRC) -- The output of polycarbonate (PC) in the Russian Federation reached 50,000 tonnes over the first three quarters of 2014, which equals the last year's level, according to MRC ScanPlast report.
Kazanorgsintez, Russia's only national PC producer, produced material steadily over the stated period. The plant's monthly capacity utilisation was 100% except for the months of scheduled maintenance works.
Kazanorgsintez produced the same volume of PC as last year. However, the production structure was changed. Thus, extrusion grades accounted 78% of the total PC output (38,400 tonnes) over the first three quarters of 2013 and injection moulding grades - 22% (10,700 tonnes). 42,200 tonnes of PC for sheet extrusion (86%) were produced over the first nine months of the year, while 6,800 tonnes of PC (14%) were produced for injection moulding. Thus, Kazanorgsintez's output of injection moulding PC fell by 36%, whereas its production of PC for sheet extrusion increased by 10%.
Almost all Kazanorgsintez's injection moulding grades produced last year were exported to foreign markets. Thus, 9,700 tonnes were exported from January to September 2013, accounting for 91% of the plant's total production of injection moulding PC over the said period.
The needs of the Russian market in this material are 800-900 tonnes per month, including imports. Injection moulding grades will be produced as per the needs of the national market (200-300 tonnes) because of the reorientation of the producer to the domestic market. Exports were suspended. Extrusion grade PC accounts for the bulk of the total output.
MRC