MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) to the Russian market decreased in the first quarter of 2015 by 42% year on year and totalled 3,500 tonnes, according to MRC DataScope report.
March GPPS imports rose by 17% from February to 1,600 tonnes. Traditionally, imports grow in the first half of the year. This year's lower imports were caused by the displacement of foreign grades by Russian material because of the increased production in the country.
The sector of extrusion grade GPPS for the foam products processing accounted for the greatest fall im shipments. Imports of these grades were only 160 tonnes in Q1 2015 versus 1,130 tonnes in the first quarter of 2014. Thus, the decrease in imports was caused by the increased output of GPPS for the extruded polystyrene (XPS) producers at Gazprom neftekhim Salavat this year. At the same time last year, the plant produced GPPS-115 grade, used in the injection moulding processing.
Imports of polystyrene for sheet extrusion fell by 35% to 1,700 tonnes, whereas imports of injection moulding GPPS grades dropped by 28% to 1,670 tonnes.
MRC