MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of polypropylene (PP) into Ukraine grew in the first five months of 2016 by 38% year on year, totalling 48,400 tonnes. Propylene copolymers accounted for the greatest increase in supply, according to MRC DataScope report.
May PP imports into Ukraine decreased to 9,100 tonnes from 12,000 tonnes a month earlier, propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) accounted for the largest fall in shipments. Overall imports of propylene polymers grew to 48,400 tonnes in January-May 2016 from 35,200 tonnes a year earlier. Statistical propylene copolymer (PP-random) accounted for the greatest increase in imports, thus, local pipes producers raised their consumption by several-fold.
The supply structure by PP grades looked the following way over the stated period.
Last month's imports of homopolymer PP to the Ukrainian market dropped to 6,800 tonnes, whereas this figure was 9,300 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies reduced their purchasing of injection moulding PP by several times. Overall imports of homopolymer PP rose to 37,300 tonnes over the first five months of the year, compared to 25,700 tonnes a year earlier. This significant increase in imports was not supported by demand, there has been oversupply in the market for a long time, which put a major pressure on prices.
May imports of the propylene block copolymers (PP-block) were slightly over 900 tonnes, compared to 1,100 tonnes a month earlier, Ukrainian companies reduced their purchasing of pipe grade PP-block. 4,600 tonnes of PP-block were imported from January to May 2016, whereas this figure was 3,200 tonnes a year earlier.
Last month's imports of PP-random to Ukraine dropped to 1,100 tonnes from 1,500 tonnes in April, local converters reduced their purchasing of film grade PP in foreign markets. Overall imports of PP-random exceeded 5,600 tonnes in January-May 2016, whereas this figure was 3,600 tonnes a year earlier .
Overall imports of other propylene copolymers totalled 819 tonnes over the stated period.
MRC