Market Dynamics
PP production in Russia rose by 25% from January to April 2014
Time: 2014-05-27 Source from: mrcplast
(MRC) -- Production of polypropylene (PP) in Russia increased over the first four months of 2014 by 25% year on year. Increased capacity utilisation at Tobolsk-Polymer and Poliom was the main cause of the growth in the output, as per MRC ScanPlast.
April PP production in Russia rose to 87,500 tonnes from 82,200 tonnes in March. Thus, the overall output of polymers of propylene by Russian plants totalled about 322,400 tonnes from January to April 2014, while this figure was 258,800 tonnes over the same period of 2013. As expected, the increased capacity utilisation at the plants that were launched in 2013 (Poliom and Tobolsk-Polymer) led to such a major growth in PP production in Russia.
The production structure by plants over the said period looks the following way.
Poliom started PP production on 11 February 2013, the plant"s annual production capacity was 180,000 tonnes then. The plant increased its capacity to 210,000 tonnes in May 2014. Poliom produced about 15,600 tonnes of PP in April. The overall plant"s output rose over the first four months of the year to 54,200 tonnes (19,500 tonnes over the same period of 2013).
Tobolsk-Polymer (the plant"s commissioning was last May, its annual capacity is 500,000 tonnes) also significantly increased its capacity utilisation this year. Its April PP output reached 23,500 tonnes. Thus, the plant produced about 54,800 tonnes of PP from January to April 2014.
Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Ufaorgsintez virtually managed to maintain their production at the last year"s level. They produced 17,100 tonnes and 10,100 tonnes of PP, respectively, in April. These plants" PP production reached 69,000 tonnes (2013 - 68,500 tonnes) and 42,700 tonnes (42,900 tonnes a year earlier), respectively.
Neftekhimia (Kapotnya) and Tomskneftekhim reduced their output. They produced 10,200 tonnes and 11,000 tonnes of polymers of propylene, respectively, in April. The plants reduced their PP output by 2% and 5%, respectively, from January to April 2014 to 39,600 tonnes and 43,900 tonnes.
As reported earlier, Stavrolen was forced to suspend its PP production on 26 February because of an accident at the ethylene unit. At the same time, one should not rule out the fact that the Budenovsk plant might resume its PP production in summer, using imported feedstock.