MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) from Iran to Russia rose in the first nine months of 2019 by 98% year on year to 5,500 tonnes, according to MRC's DataScope report.
GPPS and HIPS imports from Iran totalled 2,800 tonnes in January-September 2018.
Producers Artan Petro and Petropaak with the share of 61% and 37%, respectively, accounted for the bulk of shipments from Iran.
At present, Iran is the third largest country supplying polystyrene (PS) to Russia after Belgium and South Korea. Thus, the share of Iranian material was 13% in the first three quarters of 2019, whereas that of Belgium was 38% and of South Korean - 21%.
September PS shipments from Iran to the Russian market increased by six-fold to 390 tonnes from 70 tonnes in September 2018. Imports from Iran were 920 tonnes in August 2019.
MRC