June imports of suspension PVC (SPVC) in Russia grew to 28,200 tonnes, compared with 27,300 tonnes in May. Total SPVC imports in Russia decreased to 125,600 tonnes in January - June this year, compared with 238,300 tonnes year on year. The biggest decrease in imports occurred for US resin, which can be explained by high export prices and the devaluation of the Russian rouble.

 

Structure of SPVC imports over the reported period was as follows. June imports of Chinese acetylene PVC in Russia rose to 21,000 tonnes, compared with 17,400 tonnes in May. Russia's imports of Chinese acetylene resin decreased to 69,400 tonnes in January - June 2014, down 28% year on year. Stable pricing policy allowed Chinese producers to minimize their losses in the Russian market.

 

Russia's imports of US PVC imports from the United States last month fell to 3.1 million tons versus 3.6 million tons in May. Imports of US resin to the country decreased to 26,400 tonnes in the first six months of this year, compared with 113,800 tonnes year on year. 

 

Russian companies reduced their purchases of US SPVC to the minimum because of high prices, and this situation will unlikely change this year. 

Russia's imports of European PVC have also remained weak because of the high price; Russia's imports of European resin were about 3,000 tonnes in June, compared with 4,300 tonnes in May.

 

Total imports of European PVC to Russia were 20,300 tonnes in the first six months of the year, compared with 21,000 tonnes year on year. 

Russia's SPVC imports are expected to increase in the coming months on the back of the upcoming scheduled maintenance works at the Russian plants. 

 

The schedule of the shutdowns is as follows: SayanskKhimPlast will shut its capacities for a turnaround from 2 to 28, August; Bashkir Soda Company - from 10t to 30, September, Kaustik (Volgograd) - from 3 to 20, October. A series of scheduled shutdowns will make local converters increase the volume of purchases in foreign markets.