MOSCOW (MRC) -- In October, Russian companies managed to increase output of basic chemicals by 1.4% from September. Overall production of basic chemicals rose by 3.3% year on year in the first ten months of 2016, according to Rosstat's data.
According to Russia's Federal Service of State Statistics, last month's output of basic chemicals increased by 1.4% compared to September, with ethylene accounting for the greatest increase in production. Overall output of basic chemicals grew in January-October 2016 by 3.3% year on year.
Thus, 231,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced in October versus 221,000 tonnes a month earlier, low September figures were caused by maintenance works at Kazanorgsintez. In general, over 2.321 million tonnes of this olefin was produced in January-October 2016, up by 4.8% year on year.
Last month's output of benzene rose to 109,000 tonnes from 101,000 tonnes in September, also due to the outage at the Kazan plant. Total production of this material exceeded 1 million tonnes in the first ten months of 2016, up by 1.8% year on year.
Production of xylenes increased to 44,700 tonnes in October from 36,000 tonnes a month earlier. 465,100 tonnes of xylenes were produced in January-October 2016, up by 2.5% year on year.
October output of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) rose to 99,200 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) compared to 89,200 tonnes a month earlier. RusVinyl and Bashkir Soda Company shut down their production capacities for maintenance in September. Overall production of caustic soda totalled 927,100 tonnes in January-October 2016, up by 1.3% year on year.
Last month's output of mineral fertilizers (recalculated for 100% nutrients) was 1.711 million tonnes, up by 1% from September. Russian plants produced more than 16.9 million tonnes of fertilizers in the first ten months of 2016, up by 2% year on year. All types of fertilizers accounted for the increase in production, with the exception of potash, the output of which dropped by 6.4%.
MRC