MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's output of chemical products dropped in September 2019 by 2.4% month on month.
However, production of basic chemicals increased by 3.6% in the first nine 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, 200 ,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced in September, compared to 255,000 tonnes a month earlier. Kazanorgsintez and Stavrolen capacities were shut for maintenances in September. Thus, 2,256,000 tonnes of this olefin were produced in January-September 2019, up by 0.7% year on year.
Benzene production in September amounted to 108,000 tonnes against 117,000 tonnes a month earlier, which was also a result of the shutdowns in Kazan and Budenovsk. Overall output of this product reached 1,076,000 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, up by 0.6% year on year.
September production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) were 107,000 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) versus 111,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of caustic soda totalled 960,900 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 946,500 tonnes a year earlier.
1,927,000 tonnes of mineral fertilizers (in terms of 100% nutrients) were produced in September versus 1,939 mln tonnes a month earlier. Overall, Russian plants produced 18,180,000 tonnes of fertilizers in January-September 2019, up by 4.3% year on year.
Last month's production of polymers in primary form decreased to 670,000 tonnes, up 8.8% from August due to scheduled maintenance works of several manufacturers. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 6,338,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by only 3.2% year on year.
MRC