MOSCOW (MRC) -- Resin consumption in the Russian market is still limited by low demand for finished goods. January became the period of long-term holidays and scheduled maintenance, only in early February many converters restarted their work, according to ICIS-MRC Price report. Severe frost and low demand for PVC finished goods didn't allow Russian converters to increase suspension consumption. Calendar incoming of spring doesn't give much hope to PVC converters as well. Traditional exclusion is the sector of window profiles, though there is no peak of buying activity. Besides, many market players don't have money for resin purchases.
In late February-early March Russian producers and importers of PVC started active preparation for the season. Because of scheduled shutdowns in April in Volgograd and in May in Saiansk, PVC sales in spot market in March are limited. Insufficient offer of PVC from North American suppliers is compensated with growing purchases of resin in China.
Despite growing export prices for suspension in North America and China over last two months, on average, by USD 100/mt, spot quotations for resin in the Russian market remains without serious changes. At that strengthening of ruble against dollar partially compensated the growth of prices in the external markets. Converters still mainly purchase suspension from domestic producers. Russian producers expectedly raised prices for March PVC to the level of 48.000 - 49.000 RUB./t, including VAT, СРТ Moscow.