MOSCOW (MRC) -- Negotiations over prices of European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for April shipments to the CIS countries began last week. A shortage continued to put a major pressure on European producers' export prices, in some cases, a price increase was EUR100/tonne from March, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.
The April contract price of ethylene was settled up by EUR40/tonne from the previous month, which theoretically allows to talk about an increase of EUR20/tonne in the net cost of PVC production. But in the past few months, the deficit was the determining factor in the market, and it was the shortage of polymer in the market that had led to a three-digit rise in export PVC prices. European producers announced an increase in export prices for the CIS countries in April by an average of EUR100/tonne.
Seasonal factors has started to play an increasing role in demand for PVC, many converters continue to gradually raise their capacity utilisation. But export quotas of European producers, on the contrary, decreased more and more with every passing month. Unstable operations at some producers' production capacities and strong demand led to an acute shortage of PVC in Europe.
Resin with K=58/70 accounted for the cutest shortage of export quotas. Many market participants could not fully meet their needs in this PVC from European producers. At the same time, it is often possible to agree on deliveries of no more than 50% of the submitted enquiry.
Overall, deals for April shipments of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) to the CIS markets were negotiated in the range of EUR1,185-1,245/tonne FCA, whereas the previous month's deals were discussed in the range of EUR1,085-1,145/tonne FCA.
MRC