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Russian petrochemical, organic chemical & polymer production data is available online using the Statistical Database, or alternatively can be sent to your e-mail address as an Excel file. Please contact us stating which products are of interest.
Russian chemical production recovered in the first half of 2010 to record a 19.5% increase over the same period last year. The most important aspect of the recovery has been profitability levels, which although still under pressure from tight margins, have for the most part responded positively. According to the Russian Ministry of the Economy, the share of unprofitable producers operating in the chemical industry fell from 39.9% in the first half of 2009 to 26.9% this year. Some producers continue to record losses, but this not so much from production operations and more to do with corporate affairs including asset revaluations, etc.
In the bulk polymers, polyethylene production rose 17.9% in Russia against the first half of 2009 with nearly all plants recording increases. Total polyethylene production amounted to 819,200 tons whilst polypropylene totalled 320,000 tons. Most polymer markets in Russia have seen much greater interest this year, although some end-use areas are taking time to revive levels of demand seen prior to late 2008.
Foreign trade turnover in chemicals increased by 46% in the first half year, totalling $18 billion. Exports of chemical products grew faster than imports, and totalled $10 billion for the first six months, 53% more than in 2009. Imports of chemicals increased by 39% to $8 billion. The leading position in the commodity structure of Russian chemical exports has traditionally been fertilisers, accounting for 38% of shipments in the first half of 2010.
In addition, large-scale deliveries abroad were also noted for the plastics and synthetic resins, ammonia, and caprolactam. The commodity structure of Russian imports of chemicals and petrochemicals covers a wider range of products, but mainly chemicals with high added value. This includes plastics, paints, household chemical goods, etc. Plastic and synthetic resins, and synthetic fibres and yarns accounted for 17% and 31% respectively of total chemical imports.
Russia exported lower volumes overall to China in the second quarter against the first quarter, due primarily to higher demand on the domestic market. Despite improved demand conditions at home, most Russian chemicals exported to China have been shipped in larger volumes in the first of 2010 against the same period last year. Trends in the second quarter suggest a relative slowdown in exports, as products such as HDPE and LDPE have become tighter on the domestic market. Products seeing a significant upturn this year include caprolactam, bisphenol A and polyamide-6. Kuibyshevazot has recently increased capacity allowing it to ship more volume of polyamide to China.
In other markets, Russia is facing a possible anti-dumping duty on methanol exports from Ukraine. The sole methanol producer Azot at Severodonetsk has filed a complaint that Russian methanol is damaging its market share, as it is based on much lower gas costs. Regarding polymer imports into Russia, South Korea has recovered some of the lost polymer sales in 2009 in the first half of this year but volumes remain much lower than in 2008.
Russian ethylene production was affected slightly by planned downtime in the second quarter, but was still close to 600,000 tons for the three months. For the first half year, Russia managed to exceed the results both from the same period last year and in 2008. Production has been boosted by the cracker operation at Nizhnekamskneftekhim, which after modernisation and expansion has been running at full capacity. However, ethylene supply is tightly balanced in Russia and further expansions are required in order to meet the demand from the large polymer projects that are being planned. Full ethylene production and capacity data by plant is available on the Statistical Database at www.cirec.net.
The full copy of CIREC Monthly News for August 2010 is available through Client Login. To gain access please login or otherwise visit Subscription.
Multi-client petrochemical studies are shown below. For further information please contact us.
Russian Petrochemical Market Report, Quaterly Update
Russian Ethylene Market 2011-2020
Russian Propylene Market 2011-2020
Russian Benzene Market 2011-2020
Russian Methanol Market 2011-2020
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