MOSCOW (MRC) -- Polypropylene (PP) imports into Russia slumped in the first eight months of 2019 by 9% year on year to 120,100 tonnes.
The greatest decrease in imports accounted for homopolymer PP, according to MRC DataScope.
August PP imports into the Russian market rose to 18,100 tonnes from 15,300 tonnes a month earlier, supply of homopolymer PP from Turkmenistan grew. In general, total PP imports into the country decreased to about 120,100 tonnes in January - August compared with 131,300 tonnes year on year. The volume of external purchases for all grades of polymers of propylene decreased, with the exception of PP block copolymers, with the most noticeably reduced imports of homopolymer PP.
Overall, the structure of PP imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
August imports of homopolymer PP increased to 6,600 tonnes against 2,900 tonnes a month earlier, shipments of homopolymer PP raffia from Central Asia decreased several times. Thus, overall imports of homopolymer PP to Russia totalled 38,200 tonnes in the first eight months of 2019, compared to 48,400 tonnes a year earlier.
August imports of PP block copolymers in Russia were about 5,300 tonnes against 6,300 tonnes in July on decreased demand for injection moulding PP. Imports of PP block copolymers into Russia reached 37,200 tonnes in January-August 2019, compared to 31,900 tonnes a year earlier.
August imports of PP random copolymers remained in the level of July at about 2,900 tonnes. Total imports of PP random copolymers in Russia were 20,800 tonnes in January - August 2019, compared with 24,100 tonnes year on year.
Russia's imports of other polymers of propylene for the period were about 23,900 tonnes in the first eight months of the year, compared with 26,900 tonnes year on year.
MRC