MOSCOW (MRC) -- Buyers of Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Penoplex's general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) reported an increase in prices, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.
Buyers of Nizhnekamskneftekhim's polystyrene (PS) in the market reported an increase of Rb2,300-2,500/tonne, including VAT, in prices for July shipments.
Spot prices of Kirishi GPPS rose by Rb1,000/tone, including VAT. Penoplex reduced shipments to the spot market.
Market players said they also expected Gazprom neftekhim Salavat's GPPS and HIPS prices to go up. At the same time, some buyers reported a shortage of GPPS in the spot market. Demand for HIPS was stable.
Some market players predict an even greater shortage of GPPS in the second half of July. Producers said they also anticipate a deficit in the styrene monomer (SM) market, which will be caused by scheduled outages at SM and PS plants in Russia. Gazprom neftekhim Salavat shut down its SM production on 23 June. Maintenance works at the Salavat plant's SM production will last until 23 July. Then the plant will shut donw its GPPS production. SIBUR-Khimprom is expected to shut down its SM production in August. The turnaround will last for a month.
MRC