Imports of bottle grade PET to Russia fell 23% in August

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of Chinese bottle grade PET chips to Ukraine have almost halved to the lowest level since the beginning of the year, according to a DataScope review of Market Report.

August imports of Chinese bottle grade PET chips to Ukraine were 5,700 tonnes, compared to 10,900 tonnes a month earlier. In August of the previous year, shipments of PET chips were 10,400 tonnes.

Deliveries of Chinese bottle grade PET in August accounted for 52% from total imports against a share of 75% in July and 71% in August last year.
It was earlier said that August imports of bottle grade 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.

Import deliveries of bottle grade PET chips to Ukraine decreased by 2% in January-August compared to the same period last year and amounted to 102,200 tonnes. Ukraine's imports of bottle grade PET chips in January-August last year amounted to 104,700 tonnes.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Shipments of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) from Iran to Russia increased in August almost by four times from the previous month, totalling 920 tonnes versus 240 tonnes in July, according to MRC's DataScope report.

Imports from Iran were 420 tonnes in August 2018.

Producers Artan Petro and Petropaak with the share of 62% and 35%, respectively, accounted for the bulk of shipments from Iran.

At present, Iran is the third largest country supplying polystyrene (PS) to Russia after Belgium and South Korea. Thus, the share of Iranian material was 14% in January-August 2019, whereas that of Belgium was 37% and of South Korean - 22%.

PS shipments from Iran to the Russian market grew by 89% year on year in January-August 2019 to 5,040 tonnes from 2,670 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russian plants reduced their output of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) in August 2019 by 19% year on year to 27,280 tonnes, according to MRC's ScanPlast report.

This figure was at 33,5400 tonnes in August 2018.

Russia's August GPPS and HIPS production decreased by 15% from July 2019.

Last month's reduction in Russia's polystyrene (PS) production was mainly caused by a long launch of the standard output at Gazprom neftekhim Salavat after a period of shutdown for maintenance and by the shutdown for a turnaround at Penoplex's plant in Kirishi from 5 August to 13-14 September.

PS production slightly increased in the Russian market in January-August 2019. Thus, the increase was 1% year on year: 251,690 tonnes versus 248,150 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) into Ukraine decreased in the first eight months of 2019 by 36% year on year, totalling 31,300 tonnes. At the same time, sales of Ukrainian PVC to foreign markets dropped by 7% year on year, according to a MRC's DataScope report.

Last month's SPVC imports to the Ukrainian market fell to 4,300 tonnes from 6,000 tonnes in July, with US resin accounting for the main decrease in shipments. Overall SPVC imports reached 31,300 tonnes in January-August 2019, compared to 49,100 tonnes a year earlier.

European producers with the share of about 65% of the total imports were the key suppliers of resin to the Ukrainian market in the first eight months of 2019. Producers from the USA with the share of about 34% were the second largest suppliers.

This year's stronger demand for Ukrainian PVC from the domestic market led to lower exports. 14,000 tonnes of suspension were shipped to foreign markets in August, whereas this figure was 12,400 tonnes a month earlier. Overall, 106,400 tonnes of PVC were shipped for export in January-August 2019 versus 115,000 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC