MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall output of chemicals increased in the first nine months of 2017 by 5.6% year on year, the largest increase in production volumes fell on caustic soda and mineral fertilizers, according to Rosstat.
According to the Federal Service of State Statistics, last month's production of basic chemicals grew by 6.5% from August 2017. Thus, the cumulative increase in the output of basic chemicals from the beginning of the year by 5.6%, the largest increase in output was in caustics and fertilizers, the smallest - ethylene.
September output of ethylene was 173,000 tonnes, compared to 228,000 tonnes a month earlier, lower production in last month was caused by a scheduled shutdown for maintenance at Kazanorgsintez, Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Stavrolen. Overall, over 2.14 m tonnes of this olefin were manufactured in the first nine month of 2017, up by 4.5% year on year.
Last month's production of benzene dropped to 94,600 tonnes from 110,000 tonnes in September, which was also caused by the outage at three plants. Overall output of this product exceeded 1.0 m tonnes over the stated period, up by 6.5%year on year.
September production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) were 99,400 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) versus 96,500 tonnes a month earlier. A small decrease in output last month was a result of a decrease in capacity utilisation at RusVinyl and Kaustik Volgograd. Overall output of caustic soda grew to 901,400 tonnes in January-September 2017, up by 8.1% year on year.
Last month's production of mineral fertilizers was 1.77 mln tonnes (in terms of 100% nutrients) versus 1.86 mln tonnes in August. Nevertheless, Russian plants produced 16.36 mln tonnes of fertilizers in January-September 2017, up by 9.4% year on year.
Production of all types of fertilizers increased, with potash fertilizers, the output of which grew by 14%, accounted for the greatest increase.
MRC