MOSCOW: January imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) into Russia reached 1,200 tonnes, down by 40% year on year, with producers also cutting exports by more than a third, according to MRC’s DataScope report. Imports of SPVC decreased on the back of the long New Year holidays and local producers’ low prices, compared to 2,000 tonnes in January 2016 and 340 tonnes in December last year.
Chinese producers traditionally became the key PVC import suppliers last month. Overall imports of Chinese acetylene resin rose to 856 tonnes. It is also worth noting that lower prices in foreign markets and the strengthening of the rouble against the dollar forced Russian producers to reduce their exports in January. Over 11,200 tonnes of SPVC were shipped to foreign markets last month, whereas in January and December 2016 this figure was 5,900 tonnes and 17,700 tonnes respectively. MRC, a partner of ICIS, produces polymers news and pricing reports from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
