MOSCOW (MRC) - Russia"s polypropylene (PP) imports slightly increased in February. However, PP imports into the country over the first two months decreased by 25%, compared with the same time a year earlier, as per MRC DataScope. 

 

In February, Russian companies increased PP purchases in foreign markets, despite the lower price level of in the domestic market. 

February PP imports to Russia totalled  about 11,700 tonnes, compared with 8,700 tonnes a month earlier. Russia"s PP imports in the first two months in 2015 totalled 20,400 tonnes, compared with 27,100 tonnes year on year. The largest decline in imports occurred for homopolymer PP, which resulted from a significant increase in the domestic production.

 

PP imports in Russia over the reported period looked as follows. February imports of homopolymer PP increased to 4,300 tonnes, compared with 2,800 tonnes in January. The main volume of external supplies of homopolymer PP occurred for Turkmen raffia; in February, Russian companies bought at auction more than 15,000 tonnes of PP. 

 

Russia"s imports of homopolymer PP were 7,100 tonnes in the first two months of the year, compared with 11,900 year on year. February imports of PP block copolymer reached 2,500 tonnes, compared with 2,000 tonnes a month earlier on an increase in purchases of PP from by the local pipe producers.

Russia"s imports of PP block copolymers decreased to 4,500 tonnes over the first two months of the year, down 29% year on year. February imports of PP random copolymers in Russia were 2,600 tonnes, compared with 2,100 tonnes in January. The increase in external supply of PP random copolymers occurred for local producers of pressure pipes (in February - March, Russian producers reduced production of PP random copolymer). Imports of PP random copolymer) in Russia totalled 4,600 tonnes in January - February 2015, up 6% year on year.

 

Imports of other polymers of propylene in the reporting period into the country were 4,100 tonnes.