MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's output of chemical products dropped in July 2019 by 2.5% month on month.
However, production of basic chemicals increased by 2.9% in the first seven months of 2019, according to Rosstat's data.
According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, the largest increase in production volumes on an annualized basis accounted for mineral fertilizers and polymers in primary form. Thus, 223 ,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced in July, compared to 260,000 tonnes a month earlier.
Angarsk Polymers Plant and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat shut down their production capacities for maintenance in July. Thus, 1,801,000 tonnes of this olefin were produced in January-July 2019, up by 2.4% year on year.
Benzene production in July amounted to 108,000 tonnes against 124,000 tonnes a month earlier, which was also a result of the shutdowns in Angarsk and Salavat. Overall output of this product reached 851,000 tonnes in the first seven months of 2019, up by 0.4% year on year.
July production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) were 97,900 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) versus 110,000 tonnes a month earlier.
SayanskKhimPlast and Bashkir Soda Company shut their capacities for scheduled maintenances in July. Overall output of caustic soda totalled 742,900 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 736,500 tonnes a year earlier.
1,990,000 tonnes of mineral fertilizers (in terms of 100% nutrients) were produced in July versus 1,920,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall, Russian plants produced 14,314,000 tonnes of fertilizers in January-July 2019, up by 3.3% year on year.
Last month's production of polymers in primary form decreased to 690,000 tonnes, up 7.6% from June due to scheduled maintenance works of several manufacturers. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 4,934,000,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by only 3.2% year on year.
MRC