MOSCOW (MRC) - Production of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) in Russia increased to 61,700 tonnes in January-February 2015, up 3%compared with the same time a year earlier, according to MRC ScanPlast.

 

February production of GPPS and HIPS in Russia was about 30,000 tonnes, down almost 6% year on year. The capacity utilisation at Russian plants practically did not change. The decline in production in February is traditionally resulted from a shorter calendar month.

 

Traders said that the demand in the spot market of GPPS exceeded the demand for HIPS in the first two months of the year. At the same time there was a strong buying activity for XPS. 

 

Some traders experienced a shortage of GPPS from Gazprom neftekhim Salavat. Nizhnekamskneftekhim is the largest producer of general purpose polystyrene and high impact polystyrene in Russia. 

 

The second largest producer of GPPS in the country is Penoplex. General purpose polystyrene Styrovit brand (produced by Penoplex in St Petersburg) goes completely for the processing needs of the company.