MOSCOW (
MRC) - Record high prices for suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) in the world over the last few years continue to put pressure on prices in Russia. Russian producers announced a further price increase on average by Rb8,000/tonne for December shipments, according to
ICIS-MRC Price report.
PVC shortages have been reported in many regions of the world since summer, and prices have broken records over the past few years in November. The Russian market also does not stand aside from the global trend. Contrary to the experience of previous years, the price of domestic PVC increased seriously in October - November, and there was a noticeable tight supply in the market.
PVC supply increased for December shipment, and producers announced a more significant increase in PVC prices than in previous months. The demand for SPVC from Russian converters in the autumn months was at a good level, and given the high level of capacity utilisation of domestic PVC producers, it was not enough to fully meet all the needs. This was partly due to, among other things, the almost complete absence of imports.
The situation changed in December, but not dramatically. Converters' demand for PVC continues to decline due to the seasonal factor. Some converters reported that the volume of purchases from them was higher in comparison with the last year.
PVC supply from some Russian producers has increased this month, but there is no need to speak of a surplus.
Even taking into account the new increase in Russian PVC, imports were still significantly more expensive.
And in the next few months, this situation is unlikely to change, especially since in December world prices rose again.
The prices of Russian PVC reached another historical record in December, which is not typical for the market, since in the previous several years in winter the prices reached their lowest values for the year.
At the same time, there is no understanding of what trend will be in prices for January. Negotiations over November shipments of Russian PVC began at the end of last week, with Russian PVC with K64/67 being negotiated in the range of Rb95,000 - 97,000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT, for quantities of less than 500 tonnes.
MRC