MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall output of chemicals grew in the first ten months of 2017 by 5.6% year on year, with mineral fertilizers accounting for the greatest increase in production, according to Rosstat.
According to the Federal Service of State Statistics, last month's production of basic chemicals rose by 2.6% from September. Thus, output of basic chemicals went up by 5.6% year on year in January-October 2017, with chemical fertilizers accounting for the greatest increase in production and ethylene - for the least growth.
October output of ethylene was 205,000 tonnes, compared to 173,000 tonnes a month earlier, last month's low production was caused by a scheduled shutdown for maintenance at Kazanorgsintez. Overall, over 2.35 mln tonnes of this olefin were produced in the first ten months of 2017, up by 2.8% year on year.
Last month's production of benzene increased to 114,000 tonnes from 94,600 tonnes in September, which was also caused by the outage at Kazanorgsintez and Nizhnekamskneftekhim. Overall output of this product exceeded 1.12 mln tonnes over the stated period, up by 6%year on year.
October production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) were 109,000 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) versus 99,400 tonnes a month earlier. RusVinyl increased slightly its output last month. Overall output of caustic soda grew to 1.01 tonnes in the first ten months of 2017, up by 8% year on year.
Last month's production of mineral fertilizers was 1.88 mln tonnes (in terms of 100% nutrients) versus 1.77 mln tonnes in September. However, Russian plants produced 18.24 mln tonnes of fertilizers in January-October 2017, up by 9.3% year on year. Production of all types of fertilizers increased, with potash fertilizers, the output of which grew by 13.8%, accounted for the greatest increase.
MRC