China to reinvestigate anti-dumping duties on some rubber products from ExxonMobil

MOSCOW (MRC) -- China will re-investigate anti-dumping duties it has imposed on some rubber products used for tires and hosepipes imported from ExxonMobil Corp, reported Reuters with reference to the Ministry of Commerce's statement.

In August 2018 China imposed anti-dumping duties on halogenated butyl rubber products from the United States, European Union and Singapore.

ExxonMobil Corp and ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd, hit with duties of 75.5% and 71.9% respectively, requested an re-investigation, the ministry said.

We remind that, as MRC informed earlier, ExxonMobil has halted PE production at its site in Notre Dame de Gravenchon, France due to commercial reasons, without providing further details. The site houses 500,000 tons/year of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) plant, including metallocene linear low density polyethylene (MLLDPE).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, LLDPE shipments to the Russian market rose in the first ten months of 2019 by 11% year on year to 322,140 tonnes. Domestic producers increased their output by 30%, thereby reducing dependence on imports.

ExxonMobil is the largest non-government owned company in the energy industry and produces about 3% of the world's oil and about 2% of the world's energy.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) to the Russian market decreased in the first eleven months of 2019 by 4% year on year to 31,300 tonnes, according to MRC's DataScope report.

This figure was at 32,700 tonnes in January-November 2018.

South Korean companies LG Chem and Lotte Advanced accounted for more than half of the country's ABS imports.

Styrolution and Trinseo shipped the bulk of European ABS. The share of their supplies is 23% of the total imports.

Last month's ABS imports to Russia fell by 20% year on year to 3,300 tonnes from 4,100 tonnes a year earlier, imports of material into the country were 3,500 tonnes in October 2019.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of expandable polystyrene (EPS) to the Russian market rose in the first eleven months of 2019 by 30% year on year to 19,800 tonnes, according to MRC's DataScope report.

This figure was at 15,200 tonnes in January-November 2018.

The Finnish producer Styrochem's material accounted for 36% of the total EPS imports, the Chinese company Loyal with the share of 21% occupied the second position.

Styrochem's imports grew over the stated period by 33% year on year: from 5,300 tonnes to 7,100 tonnes. Shipments of Chinese Loyal increased by 53% year on year: from 2,700 tonnes to 4,100 tonnes.

November EPS imports to Russia increased by 20% year on year to 2,100 tonnes from 1,800 tonnes a year earlier, imports of material into the country were 1,700 tonnes in October 2019.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of polypropylene (PP) to Belarus rose in the first ten months of 2019 by 8.6% year on year, totalling about 90,000 tonnes. All grades of propylene polymers accounted for the increase in demand, according to a MRC's DataScope report.

PP imports to Belarus were about 8,500 tonnes in October 2019, compared to 8,000 tonnes a month earlier, local companies raised their purchasing of PP in Russia. Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 90,000 tonnes in January-October 2019, compared to 82,900 tonnes a year earlier, demand increased for all PP grades, with propylene copolymers accounting for the greatest rise.

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

October imports of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) reached 5,600 tonnes, compared to 5,200 tonnes a month earlier, purchasing of homopolymer PP in Russia increased after September restrictions because of shutdowns for maintenance at some local plants. Overall imports of homopolymer PP reached 60,300 tonnes in January-October 2019, up by 5.4% year on year. Russian producers with the share of about 86% of the total shipments were the key suppliers.

October imports of propylene copolymers to Belarus were 2,900 tonnes versus 2,800 tonnes a month earlier, local companies increased their procurement of injection moulding block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymer) from Russian producers. Thus, overall imports of propylene copolymers reached 29,700 tonnes over the stated period, up by 15.6% year on year.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of unmixed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into Belarus increased to 32,200 tonnes in the first ten months of this year, up 13.5% year on year, according to MRC DataScope.

According to the Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, local converters slightly reduced their purchasing of PVC in October 2019, overall imports totalled 3,000 tonnes, compared to 3,300 tonnes a month earlier.
Thus, imports of unmixed PVC reached 32,200 tonnes in January-October 2019 versus 28,300 tonnes a year earlier, with local windows producers accounting for a increase in demand.

Russian producers with the share of about 83% of the Belarusian market were the key suppliers of resin to Belarus over the stated period.

Producers from Ukraine and Germany with the share of 9% and 5%, respectively, were the second and third largest suppliers.
MRC