MOSCOW (MRC) -- Negotiations on prices of European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for March shipments to the CIS countries started last week. With the decrease in the cost of ethylene, European producers on the contrary have increased export PVC prices this month, according to the ICIS-MRC Price Report.
The March contract price of ethylene was agreed up by EUR20/tonne from February, which presupposes the decrease in PVC production costs by, at least, EUR10/tonne. Nevertheless, despite the decline in the prices of the feedstock, many European producers announced an increase in export prices for supplies to CIS markets by EUR10-25/tonne.
Demand for PVC from main consumers is still quite low due to the seasonal factor, while European producers do not activate their sales in this direction for the past two months. One of the producers has deliberately kept the higher price level since February to limit or completely cut off their sales to the CIS.
Negotiations on March deliveries of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) for the CIS markets were done in the range of EUR750-810/tonne FCA, while the February deals were done in the range of EUR725-800/tonne FCA. One of the producers has kept prices since February at the level of EUR850-870/tonne FCA, but no deals were reported at such prices.
MRC