MOSCOW: Total imports of polypropylene (PP) into Russia decreased to 138,100 tonnes in 2015, down 18% compared to the previous year. The largest decrease in the imports occurred for PP block copolymers, according to MRC DataScope.
In December, Russian companies kept to November volume of PP imports, having purchased 500 tonnes. Total PP imports into Russia decreased to 138,100 tonnes in 2015, compared with 168,600 tonnes year on year. The increase in domestic production, particularly homopolymer PP, and rouble devaluation were the main reasons for the decline in import volumes. At the same time most of the reduction of external supplies occurred for PP block copolymers.
December imports of homopolymer PP increased to 4,000 tonnes, compared to 2,000 tonnes in November, the main increase occurred for the supply of homopolymer PP raffia grade from Turkmenistan. Total imports of homopolymer PP into Russia were 46,900 tonnes in 2015, compared with 55,000 tonnes year on year. The growth of domestic production from the producers such as Tobolsk-Polymer, Stavrolen and Poliom, was the main reason for the decline in import volumes of homopolymer PP.
Russia PP imports MRCDecember imports of PP block copolymers into Russia decreased to 1,600 tonnes, from 2,400 tonnes a month earlier. Russian companies have further reduced procurement of injection moulding and pipe PP block copolymers in the external markets because of the weaker demand for finished products.
Russia’s imports of PP block copolymers in 2015 decreased to 28,400 tonnes, down 35% year on year. Such a serious decline in imports resulted from the growth of domestic production, particularly from Nizhnekamskneftekhim, Ufaorgsintez and Stavrolen, as well as the devaluation of the rouble, which made the purchase of PP in foreign markets unprofitable.
December imports of PP random copolymers into Russia were about 2,800 tonnes, compared to 4,000 tonnes in November on the back of the decrease in purchases from the local producers of PP pipes. Total PP random copolymers imports into the country were 36,500 tonnes in 2015, up 7% year on year. The increase in external supplies of PP random copolymers occurred for the producers of pipes and biaxially-oriented polypropylene films (BOPP films). Imports of other propylene polymers in 2015 decreased to about 26,300 tonnes, compared with 35,400 tonnes in 2014.
