MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of polypropylene (PP) in Kazakhstan increased to 18,100 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2014, up 29% year on year. Due to the growth in production volumes export sales of the Kazakh PP increased by 29% to 19,700 tonnes over the reported period, according to MRC analysts.

 

November PP exports from Kazakhstan seasonally decreased to 2,000 tonnes, compared with 2,700 tonnes in October. Imports of PP in the country increased to 18,100 tonnes in January - November 2014, compared with 14,000 tonnes in the same time a year earlier. November exports of homopolymer PP in Kazakhstan were 1,600 tonnes, compared with 2,300 tonnes in October on the back of the lower demand from the producers of PP bags. 

 

Imports of homopolymer PP in the country grew to 13,800 tonnes in the first eleven months of this year, compared with 9,200 tonnes year on year. November imports of propylene copolymers in the country decreased to 405 tonnes, compared with 420 tonnes in October. Imports of propylene copolymers in January-November 2014 decreased to 4,300 tonnes, compared with 4,900 tonnes year on year.

 

This year, a local producer of polypropylene - Neftekhim Ltd increased its production by reducing the time of scheduled shutdown. The producer launched in December a polypropylene granulation unit, whereas up to that time PP was produced in the form of powder. In November, due to the preparation for the launch of PP granulation unit exports of PP from Kazakhstan decreased to 715 tonnes compared to 2,100 tonnes in October. Exports of homopolymer PP from the country totalled 19,700 tonnes in January - November, up 27% year on year.