MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) to Russia rose in 2019 by 10% year on year to 48,200 tonnes, according to MRC's DataScope report.
This figure was 43,800 tonnes in January-December 2018.
At the same time, last month's GPPS and HIPS imports to the Russian market dropped slightly to 3,500 tonnes from 3,600 tonnes in December 2018. Imports of material into the country also were 3,600 tonnes in November 2018.
GPPS imports to Russia grew in 2019 by 23% year on year, totalling 28,100 tonnes. Russian companies increased their imports of material by 2% last month: from 2,400 tonnes in December 2018 to 2,500 tonnes, imports were 2,300 tonnes a month earlier.
HIPS imports to the Russian Federation continued to decline for the fourth month in a row. They were 1,000 tonnes in December 2019 versus 1,200 tonnes a year earlier and 1,300 tonnes in November 2019. Imports of material dropped in 2019 by 4% year on year to 20,100 tonnes.
European material of Styrolution, Versalis and Trinseo accounted for about 90% of HIPS shipments and 62% of GPPS deliveries. Iranian GPPS of Petropaak and Artan Petro accounted for about 17% of the total imports. Iranian GPPS has not been shipped to Russia since October 2019.
MRC