MOSCOW (
MRC) -- Polypropylene (PP) imports into Russia increased by 19% year on year to 181,100 tonnes in the first ten months of 2020.
Propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) accounted for the main increase in imports, according to MRC's
DataScope report.
Russian companies decreased their purchasing of PP in foreign markets in October including due to the reduction of export quotas from some producers, imports amounted to 17,900 tonnes against 19,900 tonnes a month earlier. Thus, overall PP imports into Russia reached 181,100 tonnes in January-October 2020, compared to 152,100 tonnes a year earlier. Purchasing of all grades of propylene polymers in foreign markets increased, with homopolymer PP imports accounting for the most noticeable rise.
Overall, the structure of PP imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
October imports of homopolymer PP were about 6,000 tonnes versus 7,500 tonnes a month earlier, homopolymer PP shipments from Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan decreased. Thus, overall imports of homopolymer PP to Russia totalled 74,400 tonnes in the ten months of 2020, compared to 48,100 tonnes a year earlier.
October imports of PP block copolymers in Russia were about 5,200 tonnes against 4,900 tonnes in September, demand for Middle Eastern injection moulding polypropylene increased from Russian companies due to limited supply from local producers. Imports of PP block copolymers into Russia reached 48,900 tonnes in January-October 2020, compared to 47,000 tonnes a year earlier.
October imports of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymer) dropped to 3,200 tonnes from 4,900 tonnes a month earlier, with pipes producers accounting for the main reduction in shipments due to higher prices in Russia. Total imports of PP random copolymers in Russia were 31,600 tonnes in January - October 2020, compared with 26,900 tonnes year on year.
Russia's imports of other polymers of propylene for the period were about 26,300 tonnes in the first ten months of the year, compared with 30,000 tonnes year on year.
MRC