MOSCOW (MRC) -- Polypropylene (PP) imports into Russia grew in the first two months of 2019 by 36% year on year to 32,100 tonnes. All grades of propylene polymers accounted for the greatest increase in imports, according to MRC's DataScope report.
Russian companies reduced their PP imports in February: imports were 15,100 tonnes versus 17,000 tonnes a month earlier, shipments of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) from Turkmenistan decreased. Thus, overall PP imports to Russia totalled 32,100 tonnes of propylene polymers in January-February 2020, compared to 23,500 tonnes a year earlier. The volume of purchasing of all grades of propylene polymers in foreign markets increased, with imports of homopolymer PP raffia accounting for the most noticeable increase.
Overall, the structure of PP imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
February imports of homopolymer PP were 4,800 tonnes, compared to 7,700 tonnes a month earlier, Russian companies reduced shipments of homopolymer PP raffia from Turkmenistan by several times after the surge in January. Thus, overall imports of homopolymer PP to Russia totalled about 12,600 tonnes in the first two months of 2020, compared to 7,000 tonnes a year earlier.
Last month's imports of propylene block-copolymers (PP block copolymers) were 5,300 tonnes versus 4,300 tonnes in February, demand for pipe grade PP increased from Russian companies. Imports of PP block copolymers into Russia reached 9,500 tonnes in January-February 2020, compared to 6,600 tonnes a year earlier.
February imports of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) dropped to 2,300 tonnes from 2,500 tonnes a month earlier, Russian companies reduced purchasing of film grade PP. Overall imports of this propylene copolymers grade were 4,900 tonnes in January-February 2020, compared to 4,400 tonnes a year earlier.
Imports of other propylene polymers totalled 5,100 tonnes over the stated period versus 5,500 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC