MOSCOW: Imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) to Russia totalled 115,600 tonnes in the first nine months of 2016, up by 78% year on year, according to MRC’s DataScope report. The unscheduled long shutdown at SayanskKhimplast’s PVC production was the main reason for the major increase in imports. PVC imports decreased in September to slightly over 26,400 tonnes on the back of weaker demand and stable operations at SayanskKhimplast after record volumes of 30,900 tonnes in August.
Thus, overall imports of resin to Russia totalled 115,600 tonnes in January-September 2016, compared to 67,000 tonnes a year earlier. Chinese producers are traditionally the key foreign PVC suppliers. Total imports of Chinese acetylene resin fell to 18,000 tonnes last month from 26,300 tonnes a month earlier. Over 94,000 tonnes of resin were imported from China in the first nine months of 2016 versus 43,400 tonnes a year earlier.
Producers from the US became the second-largest suppliers. September imports from this country increased and exceeded 7,100 tonnes, compared to 3,200 tonnes a month earlier. Shipments of North American PVC were 17,600 tonnes in January-September 2016, compared to 13,700 tonnes a year earlier. Imports of resin into Russia are expected to slump in October due to weaker demand, higher export prices in China (the key PVC supplier) and a major fall in prices for resin in the domestic market.
