MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) into Russia fell by 25 times over the first three months of 2015 and totalled less than 2,000 tonnes, whereas export sales of resin rose to 12,600 tonnes, according to MRC DataScope report.
March SPVC imports to the Russian market grew slightly and totalled a little less than 700 tonnes. Thus, imports of resin decreased to 1,800 tonnes in the first quarter of 2015 versus 45,000 tonnes over the same period of 2014. Export sales of Russian producers dropped n March, but they still were 12,600 tonnes.
Chinese producers accounted for the bulk of March SPVC imports - about 280 tonnes, whereas Europe accounted for about 400 tonnes. There have been no SPVC imports from the US to the Russian market since December 2014.
Imports of acetylene resin from China are expected to increase significantly in April and May. Relatively stable export prices in China and the current strengthening of the rouble against the dollar makes PVC purchasing from the country more and more attractive. Besides, the season of strong demand for finished products from PVC is approaching, and Russian producers' production capacities are not able to meet all the demand for polymer.
Russian producers already reduced their export programs in March on the back of stronger demand from the domestic market, and some producers even refused from exports in April. March exports slumped to 1,200 tonnes from 5,400 tonnes in February (excluding shipments of resin to Belarus). The overall SPVC exports from Russia were 12,600 tonnes in Q1 2015, whereas this figure did not exceed 1,400 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC