MOSCOW (MRC) - Total imports of polypropylene (PP) into Russia decreased to 68,500 tonnes in the first six months of 2015, down 22% compared to the same period of 2014. The largest decrease occurred for PP block copolymers, as per MRC DataScope.
Russian companies increased PP purchases in the foreign markets in June, particularly of homopolymer PP ahead of the approaching shutdowns for maintenance works at the local plants. June PP imports into the country reached 12,300 tonnes, compared with 8,500 tonnes in May. Total PP imports in Russia decreased to 68,500 tonnes in the first half of this year, compared with 87,400 tonnes year on year. The largest decline in imports occurred for PP block copolymers, the smallest reduction in supply occurred for PP random copolymers.
Structure of PP imports into the country for the reported period was as follows. June imports of homopolymer PP increased to 5,400 tonnes, compared to 3,000 tonnes in May, the main increase occurred for the supply of raffia grade polypropylene from Turkmenistan (about 3,300 tonnes). Some Russian companies have build additional stocks inventories of PP for a period of scheduled shutdowns of local producers. Total imports of homopolymer PP into Russia were 26,800 tonnes in January - June 2015, compared with 30,200 tonnes year on year.
June imports of block copolymers of PP increased to 2,200 tonnes, compared with 1,800 tonnes in May on an increase in the supply of injection moulding grades. Russia's imports of block copolymers of PP decreased to 13,200 tonnes in the first six months of the year. Local producers of pipe decreased import purchases more than twice; imports of injection moulding PP block copolymers decreased by 30% in the reported period.
Imports of PP random copolymers exceeded the level of 2,700 tonnes in June, compared with 1,800 tonnes in May because of an increase in purchases from the local producers of biaxially-oriented polypropylene film (BOPP films). Russia's imports of PP random copolymers decreased to 15,100 tonnes in January - June 2015, down 1% year on year. Reduction of import deliveries occurred for local producers of BOPP films and producers of pressure pipes.
Imports of other propylene polymers for the reported period decreased to about 13,500 tonnes, compared with 18,400 tonnes in the same time a year earlier.
MRC