MOSCOW (MRC) -- The overall imports of polypropylene (PP) into Ukraine decreased by 5% over the first two months 2015 and totalled 13,900 tonnes. Homopolymer of propylene (homopolymer PP) accounted for the greatest fall in demand, according to MRC DataScope report.
Last month's PP imports to Ukraine rose to 8,300 tonnes compared to the January's decline of 5,600 tonnes. The overall imports of homopolymer PP to the local market fell to 13,900 tonnes in January and February 2015 versus 14,600 tonnes a year earlier. Homopolymer PP accounted for the largest drop in shipments because of weaker demand for raffia and injection moulding PP grades.
The supply structure by PP grades looks the following way over the stated period.
Last month's imports of homopolymer PP to the Ukrainian market grew to 6,000 tonnes from 4,000 tonnes in January, with raffia of Middle Eastern producers accounting for the main increase in imports. Imports of homopolymer PP decreased over the first two months of 2015 by 9% year on year and totalled about 10,000 tonnes.
February imports of block copolymers of propylene (PP-block) were less than 900 tonnes versus 770 tonnes in January, a small increase in demand was registered in the injection moulding sector. Imports of PP-block to Ukraine fell to 1,600 tonnes over the said period from 1,800 tonnes a year earlier. Demand for extrusion PP grades fell almost twice: for the production of pipes and sheets. Demand subsided by only 4% in the injection moulding sector.
February imports of statistical copolymer of propylene (PP-random) to Ukraine rose almost two-fold from January (612 tonnes) and reached 1,300 tonnes. Purchasing from local pressure PP pipes producers grew significantly last month. The overall imports of this PP grade were 1,900 tonnes in January and February 2015 versus 1,500 tonnes a year earlier. Demand from pipes producers increased by 46%, whereas demand from local producers of biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film grew by 38%.
The overall imports of other propylene copolymers totalled about 400 tonnes over the stated period versus 500 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC