MOSCOW (MRC) -- The overall imports of polypropylene (PP) into Russia fell over the first eleven months of 2015 by 19% year on year and totalled 127,600 tonnes. Imports of block copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymer) accounted for the greatest decrease, according to MRC's DataScope report.
In November, Russian companies reduced their PP purchasing in foreign markets, the total imports were 10,500 tonnes versus 12,900 tonnes in October. PP block copolymers accounted for the main decrease in purchasing. The overall PP imports fell to 127,600 tonnes from January to November 2015 from 157,400 tonnes a year earlier. The growth of the domestic production was the main reason for lower imports, with PP block copolymers accounting for the main fall, whereas imports of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random), on the contrary, increased.
The overall structure of PP imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
The last month's imports of homopolymers of propylene (homopolymer PP) dropped to 2,000 tonnes from 2,400 tonnes in October. At the same time, shipments of homopolymer PP of raffia grade was almost absent. The overall imports of homopolymer PP totalled 42,700 tonnes from January to November 2015 versus 51,800 tonnes a year earlier. The increased domestic production, particularly, from such producers, as Tobolsk-Polymer and Poliom, was the main reason for lower imports of homopolymer PP.
The November imports of PP block copolymer virtually fell to 2,400 tonnes from 3,300 tonnes a month earlier. Russian companies further reduced procurement of injection moulding and pipe grade PP block copolymer in foreign markets. The overall imports of PP block copolymer decreased by 35% over the first eleven months of the year and totalled 26,800 tonnes. Such a major decline in imports was caused by the growth of the domestic production, particularly, from Nizhnekamskneftekhim, Ufaorgsintez and Stavrolen, as well as by the rouble devaluation, which made PP procurement in foreign markets unprofitable.
Imports of PP random were 4,000 tonnes last month versus 4,400 tonnes a month earlier, local pressure PP pipes producers reduced their purchasing. The overall imports of PP random reached 33,700 tonnes from January to November 2015, up by 6% year on year. Pipes producers accounted for the the main increase in PP random shipments, producers of biaxially oriented polypropylene film (BOPP film) also showed a small increase in demand.
Imports of other propylene polymers totalled 24,400 tonnes over the first eleven months of the year versus 32,600 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC