Exports of injection moulding PET chips from Lithuania to Ukraine up 3% in eight months

MOSCOW (MRC) - Export deliveries of injection moulded PET chips from the Lithuanian company Neo Group to Ukraine in January-August increased by 3% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 24,400 tonnes against 23,600 tonnes year on year, according to MRC DataScope.

At the same time, August imports of Lithuanian PET into the country more than doubled - from 2,300 tonnes to 4,900 tonnes. Deliveries of Lithuanian PET in August accounted for 45% from total imports against a share of 16% in July and 26% in August last year.

The main buyers of Lithuanian bottled PET were Coca-Cola Beverages Ukraine Limited and Retal.

The company increased supplies of material to Ukraine, despite the force majeure, announced in July of this year.

It was earlier reported that the Lithuanian Neo Group, one of the largest European producers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), announced force majeure circumstances on 10 July on the supply of PET from a plant in the city of Klaipeda (Lithuania) due to technical problems on the back of the shortage of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) - to a new PET line at this site. Force majeure at this plant with a total capacity of three lines of 480,000 tonnes/year (160,000 tonnes/year each) is still in force. The lines operate at reduced loading.

Closed Joint Stock Company (CJSC) "Neo Group" is one of the largest producers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) chips in Europe.
The company's enterprises are located in Lithuania, not far from Klaipeda seaport. The total production capacity of the plants is 320,000 tonnes/year, which is 12% of the quantity of PET produced in Europe. Neo Group CJSC is a part of Retal Industries Group, the leader in the production of PET preforms.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Import deliveries of injection moulded PET chips to Ukraine decreased by 2% in January-August compared to the same period last year and amounted to 102,200 tonnes, according to MRC DataScope.

Russia's imports of injection moulding PET chips in January-August last year amounted to 104,700 tonnes.

August imports of injection moulding PET chips to the country decreased by a quarter and amounted to 10,900 tonnes against 14,700 tonnes a month earlier. In August of the previous year, shipments of PET chips were 14,600 tonnes.

It was earlier reported, that price of Chinese PET from traders in the domestic market of Ukraine remained stable last week, despite the continuing trend of strengthening the hryvnya against the dollar. So, the prices of Chinese PET in Ukraine last week remained in the range of hryvnyas (UAH) 33,000-33,500/tonne, CPT Kiev, including VAT.

At the same time, the export price of Chinese PET last week was still in the range of USD900-920/tonne, CIF Odessa, excluding VAT.
Prices of Belarusian PET for delivery to Ukraine also remained at the level of the previous week in the range of UAH31,500-32,000/tonne CPT Kiev, including VAT.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of polypropylene (PP) into Belarus increased to about 64,600 tonnes in the seven months of this year, up 10.8% year on year, compared to the same period of 2018. All PP grades accounted for the increase in shipments, according to a MRC's DataScope report.

July PP imports into Belarus decreased to about 8,700 tonnes against 10,200 tonnes a month earlier, the local companies reduced the volume of purchases of polypropylene copolymers, whereas homopolymer PP purchases increased. Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 64,600 tonnes in January-July 2019, compared to 58,300 tonnes a year earlier, demand increased for all PP grades, with propylene copolymers accounting for the greatest rise.

The structure of PP imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.

July imports of homopolymer PP to the Belarusian market increased to 6,700 tonnes from 5,800 tonnes a month earlier, shipments of homopolymer PP from Russia increased. Overall imports of homopolymer PP reached 43,000 tonnes in the first seven months of the year, up by 9.5% year on year. Russian producers with the share of about 86% of the total shipments were the key suppliers.

July imports of propylene copolymers to Belarus were 2,100 tonnes versus 4,400 tonnes a month earlier, local companies decreased their procurement of injection moulding block copolymers of propylene in Russia. Total imports of propylene copolymers in the country reached 21,600 tonnes in Jan-July 2019, up 13.3% year on year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Ufaorgsintez (part of Bashneft) has shut its polypropylene (PP) production and some of its low density polyethylene (LDPE) production capacities for a scheduled turnaround, the plant's customers said to MRC.

The plant's clients said Ufaorgsintez fully took off-stream its PP production for the scheduled maintenance on Tuesday, 17 September. The plant's second LDPE line (158 and 153 grades) was also shut for a scheduled turnaround. The shutdown will be short and will last for about 12 days. The plant's PP and LDPE production capacities are 120,000 and 90,000 tonnes per year, respectively.

It is also worth noting that this is the fourth shutdown for maintenance at Russian PP plants in September. Tomskneftekhim, Stavrolen and Poliom have taken off-stream their production capacities since the beginning of the month.

And as regards LDPE production, this is the second outage for a turnaround this month and not the last one. Tomskneftekhim shut its facilities for a two-week maintenance at the beginning of the month, and Kazanogsintez will take off-stream its LDPE production capacities from 16 September.

PJSC Ufaorgsintez produces phenol, acetone, synthetic ethylene-propylene rubber, high and low pressure polyethylene, polypropylene, more than 30 types of petrochemical products and over 25 consumer products.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of polypropylene (PP) into the Ukrainian market totalled 90,100 tonnes in the first eight months of 2019, up by 4% year on year. Homopolymer of propylene (homopolymer PP) accounted for the main increase in shipments, according to MRC's DataScope report.

August PP imports to Ukraine dropped to 11,100 tonnes from 12,200 tonnes a month earlier, local companies cut their purchasing of homopolymer PP in Russia. Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 90,100 tonnes in January-August 2019, compared to 86,700 tonnes a year earlier. Homopolymer PP accounted for the main growth in imports, whereas demand for propylene copolymers subsided.

The structure of PP imports looked the following way over the stated period.

August imports of homopolymer PP to the Ukrainian market decreased to 7,800 tonnes because of lower purchasing in Russia from 9,300 tonnes a month earlier. Overall shipments of homopolymer PP reached 69,300 tonnes in the first eight months of 2019 versus 65,300 tonnes a year earlier.

Last month's imports of block propylene copolymers (PP block copolymers) were 1,500 tonnes, compared to 1,100 tonnes in July. 9,100 tonnes of PP block copolymers were imported over the stated period, whereas this figure was 8,700 tonnes a year earlier.

August imports of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) virtually remained at the previous month's level, totalling 1,600 tonnes. Overall imports of PP random copolymers exceeded 10,600 tonnes in January-August 2019, whereas this figure was 11,200 tonnes a year earlier.

Overall imports of other propylene copolymers were 1,200 tonnes over the stated period.

MRC