MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) into Ukraine decreased by 42% in the first two months of this year, compared to the same period in 2018 and reached about 7,900 tonnes. The main reason was a sufficient supply from the domestic producer, according to MRC DataScope.
Last month's SPVC imports to the Ukrainian market grew to 4,100 tonnes from 3,800 tonnes in January. Because of a decrease in capacity utilisation at Karpatneftekhim, some companies slightly increased purchases in foreign countries. Overall SPVC imports reached 7,900 tonnes in January-February 2019, compared to 13,700 tonnes a year earlier.
Sufficient supply and low prices helped the local producer to reduce the share of imports in the domestic market, while SPVC exports declined.
Structure of PVC imports into Ukraine over the reported period was as follows. Last month's imports of US SPVC shrank to 1,000 tonnes from 1,900 tonnes in January. Thus, imports of US PVC totalled 2,900 tonnes in the first two months of 2018, compared to 8,700 tonnes a year earlier.
February imports of European PVC into Ukraine increased to 2,900 tonnes, compared with 1,900 tonnes in January. Total imports of European PVC into Ukraine were about 4,800 tonnes in the first two months of the year, compared with 3,800 tonnes year on year.
It is also worth noting that due to the reduction in capacity utilisation, which was caused by the shutdown of its own ethylene production after a fire, Karpatneftekhim reduced export sales of PVC to 6,200 tonnes in February against 14,800 tonnes a month earlier. Exports of PVC in the first two months of the year exceeded 21,000 tonnes, down 21% year on year.
MRC