MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's output of chemical products rose in March 2020 by 8.1% year on year. Thus, production of basic chemicals increased by 6.7% in the first three months of 2020, according to Rosstat's data.
According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, polymers in primary form accounted for the greatest increase in the January-March output. Last month, ethylene production increased to 383,400 tonnes against 344,700 tonnes in February, several producers increased their monomer production at once. Overall ethylene production exceeded 1 mln tonnes in January-March 2020, compared to 793,600 tonnes a year earlier.
Production of benzene was 133,000 tonnes in March 2020, compared to 129,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of this product reached 395,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 5% year on year.
March production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) was 110,000 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) versus 107,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of caustic soda totalled 330,000 tonnes in the first three months of 2020, up by 1.7% year on year.
2,195,000 tonnes of mineral fertilizers (in terms of 100% nutrients) were produced in March 2020 versus 1,905,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall, Russian plants produced a little bit more than 6,000,000 tonnes of fertilizers in January-March 2020, down by 0.2% year on year.
Last month's production of polymers in primary form grew to 883,000 tonnes from 819,000 tonnes in February.
Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 2,520,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 20.7% year on year.
MRC