KIEV: Imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) into Ukraine increased by 69% in the first four months of this year compared to the same period in 2015 and reached about 40,300 tonnes, according to MRC DataScope.
April SPVC imports into Ukraine decreased after the peak level in February (14,600 tonnes) and March (13,500 tonnes) and amounted to about 8,100 tonnes. However, despite the decline in imports, export volumes of PVC were significantly higher than current market needs. Total SPVC imports into the country grew to 40,300 tonnes in January – April 2016, compared with 23,800 tonnes year on year.
Ukraine SPVC importsThe structure of PVC imports into Ukraine over the reported period was as follows: April imports of US SPVC into Ukraine decreased to 3,300 tonnes, compared with 9,700 tonnes in March. Russia’s imports of US resin were 25,500 tonnes in the first four months of the year, compared with 7,400 year on year. Significant imports of US PVC in February – April of this year resulted from to the desire of some converters and traders to build up cheaper stock inventories for the period of high season.
April imports of European PVC into Ukraine increased to 4,100 tonnes, compared with 2,800 tonnes in March. Total imports of European PVC were 11,500 tonnes in the first four months of the year, compared with 11,900 tonnes year on year.
April SPVC imports from Russia slumped to 0.7 tonnes from 0.9 tonnes in March. The main reason for the reduction in PVC imports from Russia was the forced shutdown of the second-largest producer of PVC in Russia – SayanskKhimPlast. Imports if Russian PVC into Ukraine were 3,100 tonnes in the first four months of the year compared with 4,300 tonnes year on year.