Czech crude imports Jan-Nov 2025

Imports of crude into the Czech Republic amounted to 6.126 million tons in the first eleven months in 2025 versus to 6.208 million tons in the same period in 2024.  Imports from Azerbaijan totalled 2.704 million tons against 2.376 million tons in January to November 2024, whilst shipments from Kazakhstan increased from 947,100 tons to 1.112 million tons.  Replacing Russian sources, imports from Norway amounted to 1.144 million tons in the first eleven months against zero in 2024 whilst imports from Saudi Arabia increased from 161,800 tons to 639,600 tons.   The Czech Republic has started importing crude from Ukraine before the end of 2025. 

Hungarian crude imports Jan-Nov 2025

Hungary imported a total of 3.962 million tons of crude from Russia in the first eleven months in 2025 against 4.095 million tons in the same period in 2024.  Crude imports into Hungary, in total, rose slightly from 4.725 million tons in the first eleven months in 2024 to 4.322 million tons in the same period in 2025.    

Aside possible attacks on the Druzhba pipeline, Hungary is also facing the prospect of a total halt on the transit of Russian crude into Europe.  Both Hungary and Slovakia claim that alternative supplies via the JANAF pipeline through Croatia are not sufficient to meet the demands of the refineries and that JANAF is failing to meet contractual obligations.  The politics suggest that expedient reasons will be made by Hungary and Slovakia to continue buying crude from Russia, but this will be forced to come to an end in the next two years by EU deadlines.  JANAF has urged MOL to increase the utilisation of pipeline capacity at the operational level, as the current use of the pipeline by MOL Group is well below the contracted and usual business practices in the oil pipeline transportation business.

Polish crude imports Jan-Nov 2025

From the total of 23.376 million tons of crude imported into Poland in the first eleven months this year, supplies from Saudi Arabia totalled 10.903 million tons followed by Norway which provided 7.444 million tons.     Other supplies came from the US, UK, Nigeria and Guyana. 

Druzhba news

Kazakhstan's oil company KazMunayGaz intends to increase oil exports to Germany to 2.5 million tons in 2026.  In 2025 2,146 million tons of Kazakh oil was transported to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline which represents a 44% increase over the previous year.  In contrast, exports via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) route decreased by 11 percent to 1,263 million tons.

Serbia’s state-owned energy company, Transnafta, recently announced a tender for the construction works on a new cross-border crude oil pipeline between Serbia and Hungary. The 100 km pipeline will allow Serbia to receive Russian oil products through Hungary, utilizing the existing infrastructure of the  Druzhba oil pipeline. 

The new pipeline system is intended to possess a capacity of around 5.5 million tpa of Russian crude oil annually, and provides some much-needed relief for the Russian oil sector as the vast majority of nations cut ties with Moscow.

Polish petrochemical production Jan-Nov 2025

Ethylene production in Poland dropped from 318,800 tons in January to November 2024 to 270,600 tons in January to November 2025 as Orlen reduced cracker utilisation to 66% of capacity from 76%.  Polish propylene production dropped slightly from 356,900 tons to 322,200 tons. 

Butadiene production at Plock rose from 47,540 tons to 49,506 tons in 2025.  Nearly all of the butadiene produced at Plock is consumed by Synthos.  In other areas of petrochemical production phenol dropped slightly from 38,608 tons to 35,104 tons.

In the plastics sector polyethylene production in Poland amounted to 264,500 tons in January to November 2025 versus 285,000 tons in January to November 2024.  By contrast, polypropylene production in Poland increased from 288,500 tons to 316,600 tons from the two plants at Plock and Police.  PVC production at Wloclawek decreased from 205,600 tons to 156,200 tons. 

Orlen-Grupa Azoty Polyolefins

At the end of December 2025 Orlen informed Grupa Azoty that it maintained the conditions of the non-binding offer to buy all shares of Grupa Azoty Polyolefins and extends the validity of the offer until 31 March 2026.  Orlen’s takeover of control of the company may turn out to be the only chance for Grupa Azoty to restructure its debt and complete the strategic petrochemical project.

Polish propylene imports, Jan-Nov 2025

Poland imported 72,717 tons of propylene in January to November in 2025 against 69,958 tons in the same period in 2024.  In the first eleven months this year Germany was the main supplier to Poland, shipping 90,202 tons against 68,745 tons in January to November 2024.  Average import prices for propylene imports into Poland dropped from €847.2 per ton to €825.9 in January to November 2025. 

Polish exports of propylene totalled 15,672 tons in the first eleven months against 12,316 tons last year, almost exclusively supplied by Grupa Azoty Polyolefins from the Polimery Police plant.  Production has been stopped since July. 

Polish butadiene imports, Jan-Nov 2025

Butadiene import prices for Poland dropped from €880.6 per ton on average in the eleven months in 2024 to €786.0 in January to November 2025, with import volumes declining from 96,811 tons to 89,793 tons.   Synthos is the major importer of butadiene in Poland.   Germany was the largest supplier in the eleven months this year, shipping 36,251 tons against 26,132 tons in 2024.  The increase in butadiene imports has been driven primarily by the increase in synthetic rubber production at Oswiecim.

Orlen-butadiene expansion of production

Orlen signed an agreement with Synthos on 18 December regarding the purchase of the new butadiene project under construction at Plock.  Synthos is selling 100% of shares in the butadiene plant for zl 692 million (€165 million) and will be finally settled by the end of June 2026.  The new Butadiene Unit will collect the entire C4 fraction from installations under construction within the Nowa Chemia project and will supply not only butadiene but also raffinate-1.

Hungarian propylene and butadiene imports, Jan-Nov 2025

Exports of propylene from Hungary amounted to 60,979 tons in January to November 2025 against 63,777 tons in 2024.  Shipments from MOL’s plant at Tiszaujvaros to Slovnaft in Slovakia dropped from 61,722 tons to 50,793 tons.  Prices averaged €935.8 per ton in the first eleven months this year, down slightly against €851.3 per ton in the same period in 2024. 

Hungarian butadiene exports dropped to 32,301 tons in the first eleven months in 2025 against 48,042 tons in the same period in 2024.  Shipments from the MOL plant in Hungary to Poland dropped from 29,681 tons in January to November 2024 to 19,587 tons whilst exports to Germany dropped to 806 tons from 8,211 tons in the same period in 2024.  Average prices for Hungarian butadiene exports dropped to €855.9 per ton versus €703.9 in 2024.

Czech olefin monomer trade, Jan-Nov 2025

Ethylene exports from the Czech Republic amounted to 12,211 tons in the first eleven months this year, down from 14,115 tons in 2024 whilst propylene exports dropped from 10,384 tons to just 82 tons.  Czech propylene imports amounted to 51,728 tons in January to November 2025 against 38,767 tons in January to November 2024.  Imports came from Germany and Poland.  Shipments from Poland increased to 14,486 tons in the first eleven months in 2025, from 11,329 tons in 2024.  Average prices for propylene imports dropped from €872.2 per ton to €859.9 per ton.  Butadiene imports amounted to 65,811 tons in January to November, rising from 40,491 tons last year. 

Central European styrene market Jan-Nov 2025

Styrene imports into Hungary totalled 48,343 tons in the first eleven months in 2025 against 51,868 tons in the same period in 2024.  Italy accounted for 44,074 tons of styrene imports into Hungary which was down from 46,407 tons in 2024.  Prices for styrene imports into Hungary amounted to €1007.1 per ton against €1405.7 per ton in 2024.

Styrene imports into Poland totalled 62,608 tons in the period January to November 2025 against 58,611 tons in the same period in 2024.  The largest supplier was Saudi Arabia which shipped 17,889 tons against 7,578 tons in the same seven months last year.  Belgium increased shipments to Poland from 20,600 tons in the eleven months 2024 to 35,810 tons this year.  Average prices for imports into Poland dropped from €1305.6 per ton in the eleven months in 2024 to €1069.6 ton in 2025.

Styrene imports into the Czech Republic amounted to 98,095 tons in the first eleven months in 2025 against 83,241 tons in the same period in 2024.  This year the Netherlands supplied 16,173 tons in the first eleven months against 10,255 tons in January to November 2024, whilst shipments from Germany increased from 5,039 tons to 15,328 tons.  Styrene is used by Synthos at Kralupy to produce different grades of synthetic rubber.

Czech polyethylene trade Jan-Nov 2025

For imports of all forms of polyethylene, Czech inward shipments amounted to 235,381 tons in January to November 2025 against 227,692 tons in January to November 2024. 

Average prices declined from €1590.1 per ton to €1442.7 per ton.  Germany was the largest source of polyethylene imports, followed by the Netherlands and Belgium. 

Polyethylene exports from the Czech Republic amounted to 334,406 tons in the first eleven months measured against 383,112 tons in January to November 2024.  Average prices rose from €1297.3 per ton to 1373.2 per ton in 2025.

HDPE export shipments from Litvinov comprised 330,585 tons in the first eleven months against 282,235 tons in the same period in 2024.  Germany was the largest destination for Czech HDPE supplied from Litvinov.  Other important markets for Czech polyethylene exports include Poland, Italy and Belgium.

Polish polyethylene trade Jan-Nov 2025

Polish imports of polyethylene totalled 1.096 million tons in January to November 2025 against 1.055 million tons in the same period in 2024, with average prices falling from €1279.6 per ton to €1239.1 per ton.  In addition to the European suppliers to Poland, Saudi Arabia and the US provided 96,238 tons and 112,264 tons respectively.

HDPE is the largest category of imported polyethylene into Poland, amounting to 350,684 tons in January to November 2025 versus 339,271 tons in January to November 2024.  Germany is the largest supplier of HDPE to the Polish market.  

LLDPE imports rose slightly from 202,411 tons in January to November 2024 to 230,759 tons in the corresponding period in 2025.  Most of the LLDPE imports were sourced from West Europe, including France, the Netherlands and Germany.  LDPE imports rose to 329,597 tons versus 328,373 tons in January to November in 2024.  Imports from ethylene alpha olefins increased to 288,744 tons against 268,427 tons.

Polish polyethylene exports amounted to 301,737 tons in January to November 2025, up from 264,482 tons in the first eleven months in 2024.  A total of 65,979 tons was exported to Germany in the eleven months in 2025, representing the largest destination.  Average prices for polyethylene exports from Poland increased in the eleven months to €1131.6 per ton versus €1085.4 per ton.  Exports of HDPE from Poland amounted to 189,109 tons in the eleven months slightly up from 176,311 tons last year whilst LDPE exports rose from 51,951 tons to 57,322 tons. 

Hungarian polyethylene trade Jan-Nov 2025

Hungarian polyethylene exports amounted to 281,817 tons in January to November 2025 against 294,694 tons in 2024, whilst average prices dropped from €1236.6 per ton to €1179.1 per ton.  In terms of category HDPE exports amounted to 201,817 tons in the first eleven months in January to November 2025 against 204,168 tons in the same period in 2024, whilst LDPE exports dropped from 75,423 tons to 42,013 tons.   

Whilst LDPE exports dropped last year Hungary increased the exports of LLDPE from only 4,064 tons in the first eleven months in 2024 to 32,527 tons.  Higher production by MOL at Tiszaujvaros has also culminated in lower imports of LLDPE from 24,818 tons in January to November 2024 to 21,621 tons in 2025.

Imports of all grades of polyethylene into Hungary amounted to 167,112 tons in January to November this year against 202,922 tons in 2024.  Hungarian import prices for polyethylene increased from €1123.4 per ton to €1437.6 in 2025.  The largest category of polyethylene imports comprised HDPE, which dropped from 89,925 tons to 81,117 tons. 

Grupa Azoty Polyolefins-Hyundai

Grupa Azoty announced that its unit Grupa Azoty Polyolefins has filed an arbitration claim against Hyundai Engineering at the Vienna International Arbitral Centre.  The claim, which totals up to €2.98 billion, relates to the implementation of the Polimery Police project.  According to Grupa Azoty, the claims stem from Hyundai Engineering’s alleged failure to fulfill its obligations under the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contract and its failure to complete the project as planned.

Azoty maintains the position that the Polimery Police project was not completed within the allotted time and for reasons attributable to the contractor, i.e. Hyundai Engineering.  Because of this, the company suffered huge financial losses.  A lawsuit in arbitration proceedings has become a necessity in the face of the contractor's failure to perform the contract.  Azoty stated that the claims include contractual penalties for delays, damages for losses incurred, and demands for the rectification of defects in the project.

The project, which was supposed to make Poland independent from the import of propylene and polypropylene, is still not finished and does not generate any revenue. Plant failures have forced the suspension of production and sales and require costly overhaul.  The Polimery Police project was launched in 2015 as a propylene production plant. After PiS took power, it was expanded to include the production of polypropylene, which significantly increased the scale and cost of the investment.

Since its commissioning in 2023, the installation has struggled with numerous failures including black flare smoke visible from afar, noise problems and the need to remove numerous defects. In 2025,

Polimery Police turned out to be the key reason for the disastrous financial condition of the entire Grupa Azoty Group, which recorded a loss of over zl 1 billion in 2023.  Although the result was improved in 2024 and 2025, the project in Police still generates huge costs and does not make money. The management of Polyolefins points out directly: the project has not been completed, failures have forced the production to stop, and the company cannot afford to continue the work.

Polish PP Trade Jan-Nov 2025

Polish polypropylene imports, including homo grade and copolymers, amounted to 910,288 tons in the eleven months against 865,563 tons last year, with prices declining from €1441.8 per ton to €1384.4 per ton.

Homo grade polypropylene imports rose from 545,086 tons in January to November 2024 to 596,133 tons, whilst copolymer imports dropped from 295,009 tons to 287,673 tons. 

Total import costs of propylene polymers were lower, amounting to €1.224 billion against €1.256 billion in 2024.  In terms of pricing, imports into Poland usually face a higher premium than exports primarily due to the volumes of propylene copolymers than enter the country.

Exports of homo polymer grade polypropylene from Poland amounted to 187,422 tons in January to November against 222,615 tons in 2024.   Homo polymer grades comprised the main category of Polish polypropylene exports, where Germany was the largest destination.  Exports of all grades of polypropylene amounted to 271,694 tons in January to November 2025 against 299,312 tons in January to November 2024.  Prices of Polish exports dropped to €1314.8 per ton from €1441.3.   

Hungarian polypropylene trade Jan-Nov 2025

Exports of all forms of polypropylene from Hungary amounted to 211,813 tons in January to November 2025 versus 223,990 tons in the same period in 2024, with average prices adjusting to €1273.2 per ton from €1407.3. 

Homo-grade PP provides the main category of Hungarian polypropylene exports, amounting to 110,668 tons in the first eleven months versus 118,027 tons in 2024.   The major destinations for Hungarian polypropylene exports included Poland, Italy and Romania.  For imports of all forms of polypropylene,

Hungarian inward shipments dropped to 163,504 tons in January to November 2025 from 196,557 tons in 2024, with average prices rising from €1369.1 per ton to €1447.3 per ton.  Imports of propylene copolymers dropped from 51,854 tons to 41,894 tons whilst homo grade polypropylene imports dropped from 124,593 tons to 111,144 tons.

Czech polypropylene trade Jan-Nov 2025

Exports of all forms of polypropylene from the Czech Republic amounted to 253,093 tons in the first eleven months versus 278,099 tons in January to November 2024, with average prices rising from €1371.1 per ton to €1358.2 per ton.   For imports of all forms of polypropylene, Czech inward shipments amounted to 489,881 tons in January to November 2025 from 489,932 tons in January to November 2024, with average prices dropping to €1541.8 per ton. 

Czech butadiene rubber trade Jan-Nov 2025

The Czech Republic exported 98,717 tons of butadiene rubber in January to November in 2025 against 99,730 tons in the same period in 2024.  India was the largest destination for Czech exports, amounting to 11,019 tons in the first eleven months this year against 15,822 tons in the same period in 2024.  Average prices for butadiene rubber rose from €1750.3 per ton to €2051.4 per ton.  Besides exports the Czech Republic also imported 22,729 tons of butadiene rubber in January to November 2025, sourced largely from Germany and the US.

In overall synthetic rubber trade the Czech Republic imported a total of 124,198 tons in the first eleven months in 2025 against 131,008 tons in the same period in 2024.  Exports at the same time dropped from 121,887 tons to 119,563 tons, which were supplemented by imports of natural rubber where imports increased from 91,266 tons to 94,237 tons.

Hungarian synthetic rubber trade Jan-Nov 2025

Hungarian imports of synthetic rubber amounted to 89,391 tons in January to November 2025 against 96,076 tons in January to November 2024.  Butadiene rubber imports into Hungary increased from 26,578 tons to 29,702 tons, with the largest source coming from Indonesia.  SBR imports into Hungary dropped from 52,428 tons to 46,873 tons.  

Synthetic rubber exports from Hungary amounted to 53,505 tons in the first eleven months this year of which SBR grades accounted for 46,849 tons.  Prices rose from €1881.9 per ton last year to €2776.1 per ton. 

Polish synthetic rubber imports Jan-Nov 2025

Poland imported a total of 209,693 tons of synthetic rubber in January to November 2025 against 304,402 tons in January to November 2024.  

By category, butadiene rubber was the largest product to be imported into Poland in the eleven months, although dropping from 68,824 tons last year to 46,415 tons.  Block SBR was the second largest product but still dropping to 29,818 tons against 38,271 tons in the same period last year.   The largest suppliers of all grades of synthetic rubber included Germany and South Korea, in addition to the US, Belgium, and Saudi Arabia. 

Polish synthetic rubber exports Jan-Nov 2025

Synthetic rubber exports from Poland amounted to a total of 190,270 tons in the first eleven months in 2025 against 264,734 tons in the same period in 2024.  Export prices rose to €1715.3 per ton to €1651.7 per ton.

Exports of butadiene rubber from Poland rose in the first eleven months to 66,112 tons against 42,351.  At the same time SBR exports increased from 172,566 tons to 193,539 tons. 

Polish benzene exports Jan-Nov 2025

Polish exports of benzene totalled 148,817 tons in January to November 2025 against 130,455 tons in January to November 2024.  Benzene exports from Poland are supplied largely from Petrochemia Blachownia at Kedzierzyn-Kozle. Benzene exports to Germany rose from 113,922 tons to 118,263 tons in the first eleven months in 2024, whilst to the Czech Republic falling from 13,575 tons to 12,140 tons.

Polish PTA exports Jan-Nov 2025

Exports of PTA from Poland amounted to 231,007 tons in January to November this year against 285,144 tons in January to November 2024.  Germany took 211,394 tons against 231,470 tons in 2024.  The next largest recipient was Lithuania which took 2,938 tons against 15,425 tons.  Prices fell from €775.4 per ton in the eleven months last year to €701.3 per ton. 

The problem for PTA sales, whether domestic or export, is low margins.  In recent years, capacity expansions, led primarily by China but not limited to it, have continued to outpace slowing demand growth. The result is significant global oversupply driving persistently low operating rates and compressed margins in every major region.

Polish aromatic imports Jan-Nov 2025

Styrene imports into the Czech Republic amounted to 98,095 tons in the first eleven months in 2025 against 83,241 tons in the same period in 2024.  This year the Netherlands supplied 16,173 tons in the first eleven months against 10,255 tons in January to November 2024, whilst shipments from Germany increased from 5,039 tons to 15,328 tons.  Styrene is used by Synthos at Kralupy to produce different grades of synthetic rubber.

Ethylbenzene imports amounted to 79,279 tons in January to November 2025 against 94,599 tons in January to November 2024.  In other areas of aromatic derivatives, imports of caprolactam increased in the first eleven months to 6,234 tons versus 11,382 tons in the same period last year.  Imports of phthalic anhydride dropped from 34,022 tons to 31,404 tons, whilst TDI inward shipments fell from 75,338 tons to 64,409 tons.  Adipic acid imports amounted to 11,000 tons against 12,036 tons in the period January to November 2024. 

PTA imports into Poland increased from 11,994 tons to 33,582 tons due to lower production at Wloclawek, which reduced the demand for imported paraxylene dropping from 39,403 tons to 2,966 tons. 

Average prices for phenol imported into Poland dropped to €879.2 per ton in the first eleven months this year measured against €1244.8 per ton in January to November 2024.  Phenol imports into Poland amounted to a total of 97,104 tons in January to November 2025 which was down from 100,208 tons in the same period in 2024.  Germany remains the dominant supplier of phenol to Poland, shipping 70,880 tons in the eleven months against 74,274 tons in the same period in 2024.    Spain and Finland accounted for smaller shipments. 

Czech aromatic trade Jan-Nov 2025

Benzene imports into the Czech Republic dropped in January to November this year to 19,257 tons against 35,536 tons in January to November 2024, whilst exports increased from 24,597 tons to 30,955 tons.  Toluene imports rose from 8,916 tons to 11,341 tons.

Styrene imports into the Czech Republic amounted to 33,864 tons in the first eleven months in 2025 against 19,574 tons in the same period in 2024.  This year the Netherlands supplied 16,173 tons in the first eleven months against 10,255 tons in January to November 2024, whilst shipments from Germany increased from 5,039 tons to 15,328 tons.  Styrene is used by Synthos at Kralupy to produce different grades of synthetic rubber.

Aniline exports shipped from the Czech Republic amounted to 81,962 tons in the first eleven months in 2025 of which 71,791 tons were delivered to Hungary.  Ethylbenzene exports from the Czech Republic decreased from 89,588 tons in the first eleven months last year to 82,212 tons

Imports of Bisphenol A amounted to 28,657 tons in the first eleven months in 2025 against 29,176 tons in the same period in 2024.  South Korea is the dominant supplier to the Czech Republic, providing 21,945 tons in the first eleven months in 2025. 

Czech epoxy resin exports Jan-Nov 2025

Czech exports of epoxy resins amounted to 47,371 tons in January to November 2025 against 46,270 tons in January to November 2024.  Prices rose from €2555.7 per ton to €2674.1 per ton.  Germany remains the largest market for Czech epoxy resins, accounting for 19,041 tons in January to November 2025 which was up from 17,200 tons in January to November 2024.  The European Commission imposed anti-dumping measures on 28 July 2025 for five years concerning imports of epoxy resins originating in China.

 Hungarian aromatic trade Jan-Nov 2025

Hungarian benzene exports in the first eleven months amounted to 34,979 tons in January to November 2025 against 33,760 tons in the same period in 2024.  Benzene production in Hungary takes place at the Danube refinery at Szazhalombatta where a fire took place in October, causing a minor disruption. 

Imports of benzene into Hungary increased in the first eleven months to 40,901 tons against 14,537 tons in the same period in 2024.  Poland increased shipments to 20,139 tons against 9,596 tons in 2024. 

Toluene imports into Hungary amounted to 30,819 tons in January to November this year for costs of €27.235 million.  This represented a fall from 39,837 tons in the first eleven months in 2024 for costs of €38.069 million.  The main source of toluene supply includes Germany, followed by Romania and Slovakia.

Hungarian TDI-MDI exports Jan-Nov 2025

Hungarian TDI exports fell from 236,054 tons in January to November in 2024 to 211,123 tons in the same period in 2024.  Average prices dropped from €1975.9 per ton in 2024 to €1946.7 per ton.  For raw materials for TDI production BorsodChem sources toluene from MOL which is supplemented by imports. 

In the Central Europe region shipments of TDI from Hungary to Poland increased from 28,532 tons in the first eleven months in 2024 to 33,688 tons in the same period in 2025 and to Turkey shipments were reduced from 34,994 tons to 23,500 tons.  Shipments to Romania fell from 13,374 tons to 10,568 tons.  The major user of TDI in Romania is Chimcomplex where production fell in 2025 due to weak demand. 

In West Europe exports of TDI from Hungary to Belgium dropped from 34,028 tons in the first eleven months in 2024 to 22,595 tons in January to November 2025, whilst volumes to Italy fell from 27,692 tons to 27,120 tons in the same period in 2025.

For the MDI sector, exports from Hungary amounted to 212,161 tons in January to November 2025 against 195,772 tons in 2024.  MDI export prices dropped from €1931.2 per ton in the first eleven months in 2024 to €1741.7 per ton in 2025.  Prices did encounter some pressure in the third quarter due to low demand with quarterly quotes falling 4.3% in Germany, but supply side pressures emerged in tight benzene availability helping to counterbalance weak demand.

In terms of geographical breakdown, Poland was the largest destination for Hungarian MDI exports, accounting for 46,092 tons in the first eleven months in 2025 versus 34,942 tons in the same period in 2024.  Exports to Germany rose from 18,786 tons to 19,712 tons, and to Turkey rose from 4,813 tons to 22,324 tons.  Shipments to Romania rose from 13,233 tons to 21,556 tons.

Central European isocyanate trade Jan-Nov 2025

TDI imports into Poland amounted to 69,139 tons in January to November 2025 against 69,532 tons in January to November 2024.  Prices of TDI imported into Poland dropped from €1999.0 per ton to €1940.9 per ton.  Hungary was the largest supplier in the eleven months this year, shipping 33,559 tons to Poland followed by 28,724 tons to Germany.  Poland previously produced TDI at Bydgoszcz, but the plant was closed in 2013 after its acquisition by BASF from Ciech.

MDI imports into Poland totalled 158,017 tons in January to November this year against 170,087 tons in January to November 2024.  Average prices dropped from €1923.9 per ton to €1791.7 in January to November in 2025.

Germany increased MDI shipments to Poland to 54,553 tons in the first eleven months in 2025 against 45,733 tons in January to November 2024, whilst imports from Hungary increased to 47,404 tons against 37,313 tons in 2024.  Other suppliers included the Netherlands, Belgium and South Korea.

MDI imports into the Czech Republic totalled 38,635 tons in January to November 2025 against 38,159 tons in January to November 2024.  Average prices decreased from €2071.7 per ton to €1871.5 per ton.    The leading supplier was Belgium which shipped 9,732 tons against 6,084 tons in January to November 2024.  Imports from Hungary dropped from 7,866 tons to 7,162 tons.

Czech polyol imports Jan-Nov 2025

Czech polyol imports amounted to 44,256 tons in the first eleven months this year against 41,314 tons in the same period in 2024, with average prices dropping from €2343.2 per ton to €2103.6 per ton.  The leading supplier to the Czech Republic was Belgium shipping 11,145 tons in the first eleven months this year, followed by 7,780 tons from the Netherlands and 6,766 tons from Germany.   

Hungarian polyol imports Jan-Nov 2025

Imports of polyols into Hungary rose in the first eleven months to 37,409 tons against 30,714 tons in the same period in 2024.  Imports from China amounted to 12,422 tons from 10,664 tons in January to November 2024.  Imports from the Netherlands increased from 5,495 tons to 8,923 tons.  Prices for polyol imports into Hungary amounted to €1621.6, down from €1915.3 per ton in the previous year. 

For polyether polyols, imports from Asia increased significantly in 2025, particularly South Korea, forcing PCC Rokita to introduce price reductions resulting in a decrease in profitability.  One of the main challenges for European polyether-polyol producers in 2025 is the efficiency of production costs.  The geopolitical situation could moreover significantly influence the flow of imports, including propylene, the price of gas and energy. 

Polish polyol trade Jan-Nov 2025

Polish polyol imports amounted to 136,623 tons in January to November 2025 against 131,448 tons in January to November 2024.  The Netherlands reduced shipments from 31,145 tons to 27,581 tons, whilst Germany increased shipments from 30,090 tons to 31,321 tons.  Polyol import prices into Poland reduced from €1806.1 per ton to €1659.3 per ton. 

Poland remains a net importer of polyols, with the export focus on slightly higher value products than those imported.  Exports of polyols from Poland in the eleven months in 2025 amounted to 49,144 tons against 50,451 tons in January to November 2024.  Prices dropped from €2115.2 per ton to €1929.0 per ton.  Destinations for deliveries were focused mostly on Europe, led by Italy taking 7,055 tons against 7,444 tons in the first eleven months last year.  Shipments to Germany amounted to 4,303 tons in the first eleven months against 5,377 tons in the same period in 2024.

PCC Rokita’ construction of a new universal plant for the production of alkoxylates and other chemical compounds at Brzeg Dolny has increased by around 25% from zl 551 million (€130.4 million) to zl 842 million (€199.4 million).  The project is intended for completion by the end of 2028.  The increase in investment costs and revised completion dates is mainly due to delays in design works.  The Investment is being carried out by PCC BD, whose shareholders are PCC Rokita and PCC Exol., both holding 50% of shares.

Hungarian maleic anhydride exports Jan-Nov 2025

Hungary exported 12,884 tons of maleic anhydride in January to November 2025 year against 17,759 tons in January to November 2024.   Average prices rose from €1183.1 per ton to €1229.5 per ton.  Exports of maleic anhydride to Poland from Hungary decreased from 5,573 tons in 2024 to 1,879 tons in 2025.

Hungarian organic chemical exports Jan-Nov 2025

Exports of organic chemicals from Hungary totalled 367,616 tons in the first eleven months in 2025, down from 437,801 tons in the same period in 2024.  The largest commodity in the organic chemical sector is TDI, accounting for 41% of Hungarian organic chemical exports last year by volume and 33% by value.   Overall, the value of organic chemical exports from Hungary amounted to €929.242 million which was down from €1.126 billion in January to November 2024.

Imports of organic chemicals into Hungary amounted to 605,300 tons in the first eleven months this year against 519,780 tons in January to November 2024.  Imports consist of such products as styrene, methanol, aniline and acrylonitrile. 

Hungarian aniline & acrylonitrile imports Jan-Nov 2025

Acrylonitrile imports into Hungary increased from 12,680 tons in the first eleven months to 2024 to 17,532 tons in the same period in 2024.   Imports from the Netherlands increased from 11,107 tons to 12,768 tons.  Average prices for acrylonitrile imports increased from 1501.0 per ton to €1699.4.

Aniline imports into Hungary dropped from 76,672 tons in January to November 2024 to 51,830 tons in January to November 2025.  Inward shipments from BorsodChem-MCHZ in the Czech Republic dropped to 44,563 tons against 61,675 tons in 2024.  Cost prices of aniline imports rose from €1433.6 per ton to €1455.0 per ton.

Polish glycol-oxide imports Jan-Nov 2025

Ethylene glycol imports into Poland dropped in January to November to 31,780 tons from 52,019 tons in the same period last year.  Belgium is the main supplier of glycols to the Polish market.  DEG imports amounted to 26,485 tons against 26,564 tons. 

Ethylene oxide imports into Poland totalled 18,032 tons in January to November 2025 versus 19,667 tons in the same period in 2024.   Germany currently represents the main source of inward shipments.  Ethylene oxide consumption in Poland is expected to increase after the completion of PCC Exol’s second line of the Ethoxylates II plant at Plock. 

PCC Exol Jan-Nov 2025

The PCC Exol Group is the largest consumer of ethylene oxide in Poland.  The company recorded margins of 17.3% in the first three quarters in 2025 which was unchanged from 2024.  Revenues also include sales of ethylene oxide to PCC Group companies, accounting for more than 40% of group revenues in the first three quarters in 2025. 

The largest increase in external sales volumes was recorded in the surfactants for industrial applications.  Volume sales in the first three quarters rose from 31,700 tons to 41,500 tons.  For detergents and cosmetics sales volumes increased by 4,200 tons to 58,200 tons. Sales revenues in this product group also increased and were higher by 27.5% compared to the first eleven months of 2024.  Such a large increase in revenues comes primarily from the increase in product prices, which was the result of an increase in the prices of raw materials on the oleochemical market. 

Polish organic chemical trade Jan-Nov 2025

Exports of organic chemicals from Poland dropped in the first eleven months by volume to 1.163 million tons from 1.350 million tons in the same period in 2024, whilst imports increased from 2.934 million tons to 3.708 million tons.  Export values decreased from €1.424 million to €1.322 million, whilst import values rose from €2.934 million to €3.708 million.   The largest source of imports came from Germany.

The largest organic chemical import is methanol where the inward flow into Poland totalled 601,278 tons in January to November 2025, which was down from 581,387 tons in the same period last year.  Regarding methanol derivatives Poland imported 37,710 tons of acetic acid in January to November against 37,802 tons in the same period last year.  The US provided 26,730 tons in the first eleven months in 2025.  Average prices for acetic acid dropped €638.4 per ton to €569.7 per ton. 

Imports of ethyl acetate into Poland amounted to 12,788 tons in January to November 2025, down from 15,418 tons in the same period in 2024.  Mexico supplied 2,522 tons of ethyl acetate to Poland in the first eleven months this year, with other sources coming from Belgium and the Netherlands. 

Isopropanol imports into Poland totalled 14,310 tons in January to November 2025, against 11,624 tons in the same period in 2024.  Aside Germany, imports come from the Netherlands and South Africa. 

Regarding export activity in organic chemicals, Polish shipments of monochloroacetic acid (MCAA) amounted to 28,213 tons in the eleven months against 30,212 tons in January to November 2024.  MCAA production is undertaken by the PCC Group at Brzeg Dolny.  Other organic chemical exports from Poland include acetone where shipments amounted to 10,878 tons versus 9,615 tons in January to November 2024.   Ethylene glycol exports increased from 15,247 tons. 

Czech organic chemical trade Jan-Nov 2025

Czech imports of organic chemicals are led by methanol where volumes amounted to 56,214 tons in January to November 2025 against 59,129 tons in January to November last year.  2-EH imports into the Czech Republic amounted to 18,322 tons, with Grupa Azoty Kedzierzyn providing the largest source of supply.   DINP imports increased from 9,545 tons to 10,857 tons and ethylene glycol from 10,213 tons to 10,871 tons.   Ethylene glycol imports came from Germany and Poland.

Organic chemical imports totalled €988.4 million in value in the first eleven months this year against €987.0 million in the same period in 2024, with import volumes dropping to 507,900 tons against 523,600 tons.  Organic chemical exports from the Czech Republic dropped by value to €740.3 million against €949.4 million in January to November 2024, with volumes dropping from 421,400 tons to 378,900 tons. 

Czech methanol imports Jan-Nov 2025

Czech imports of methanol amounted to 42,544 tons in the first eleven months 2025 against 48,516 tons in the same period in 2024.  Prices per ton for methanol imports increased from €487.4 per ton to €439.0.  Poland was the largest supplier, accounting for 13,413 tons against 35,238 tons in the same period in 2024. 

Hungarian methanol imports Jan-Nov 2025

Methanol imports into Hungary in January to November increased to 77,947 tons from 72,870 tons in the same period in 2024.  Prior to the full scale war in Ukraine, Hungary’s largest source of imports came from Russia and so there has been a fundamental shift in the supply structure over the past four years.  Imports from Germany amounted to 30,193 tons in the first eleven months last year, whilst imports from the Netherlands increased from 9,803 tons last year to 22,192 tons.  Imports from Slovenia amounted to 11,042 tons in the first eleven months this year, against 14,486 tons in 2024.  Average prices of methanol imports into Hungary amounted to €458.7 per ton in 2025 against €419.5 per ton in 2024.

Polish methanol trade Jan-Nov 2025

Polish imports of methanol amounted to 601,278 tons in the eleven months in 2025 against 581,387 tons in January to November 2024.  Average prices amounted to €369.9 per ton against €327.9 per ton last year.

Imports from Trinidad totalled 108,394 tons in the eleven months in 2025 against 76,297 tons in the same period in 2024.   Supplies from the US this year totalled 149,125 tons, replacing shipments from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. 

Imports from Germany declined from 68,255 tons in the eleven months to 65,922 tons in the same period in 2025, whilst volumes from the Netherlands dropped from 66,416 tons to 22,304 tons.  Belgium supplied 54,997 tons against 151,937 tons in January to November 2024, whilst imports from Venezuela dropped from 116,987 tons to 97,064 tons. 

Exports of methanol from Poland amounted to 198,791 tons in the eleven months rising from 186,476 tons in the same period in 2024.  The largest destination for Polish exports in January to November this year was Germany which took 98,014 tons against 95,336 tons in January to November 2024. 

Ukraine imported 25,014 tons of methanol from Poland in the eleven months against 25,932 tons last year.  Polish methanol export prices increased from €395.7 per ton to €397.1 per ton, comparing to the fall in import prices.  

Russian petrochemical production Jan-Nov 2025

Ethylene production in Russia amounted to 4087.9 million tons in the first eleven months in 2025 against 4.206 million tons in the same period in 2024.  Propylene production increased from 2.308 million tons to 2.354 million tons.  Aromatics production felt the greatest effect from the attacks on refineries, with benzene dropping from 1.247 million tons to 1.158 million tons in the first eleven months in 2024.  Toluene dropped from 354,822 tons to 305,543 tons in the same period in 2025 whilst styrene monomer production dropped from 667,300 tons to 618,402 tons.

Russian polymer production Jan-Nov 2025

Russian production of plastics in primary forms declined by 1.4% in the first eleven months of 2025, totalling 9.788 million tons.  The domestic Russian market experienced significant growth in 2023 and 2024 during the peak of the country’s militarized economy; but demand is now stagnating.  Multiple pressures are gradually eroding demand, including delayed payments and rising production costs. 

Polyolefin production rose slightly in 2025 but started to decline slowly in the second half of the year.  Production of ethylene polymers increased from 3.281 million tons to 3.414 million tons in January to November 2025, whilst production of propylene polymers increased from 1.911 million tons to 1.979 million tons.  The production of styrene polymers dropped from 555,446 tons to 449,216 tons, whilst PVC production dropped from 858,243 tons to 690,425 tons.

Synthetic rubber production increased slightly despite decreased consumption within the domestic industry and was primarily driven by higher exports to China.   Production increased from 1.301 million tons to 1.305 million tons.

Ownership changes in the Russian chemical industry

In the past two years nearly all ownership changes in the Russian chemical industry have been dominated by courts and deprivatisation.   Since 2022, the Roskhim holding has been buying up and taking control of assets in the chemical industry, creating several clusters within its structure at once.  Of the most high-profile cases of 2025, the most large-scale acquisitions, apparently, were received by Roskhim.

The Russian government in December was warned by business leaders, or perhaps advised, not to privatize companies at without good reason.  Renationalisation has been carried out through the courts in disputes with former owners, most of which tend to be spurious claims.

Some deals such as for Sayanskkhimplast are yet to be finalised but others have been completed including Metafrax Chemicals, Volzhskiy Orgsintez and Bashkir Soda.  By concluding the Sayanskkhimplast deal and combining with Bashkir Soda Roskhim will hold a significant position in the Russian PVC market, whilst control of Metafrax Chemicals and Volzhskiy Orgsintez gives a group a position in organic chemicals and methanol.  The transfer of ownership of Gazprom neftekhim Salavat from Gazprom to Roskhim market the largest deal in 2025 and could stretch the capacity and capabilities of the holding group.   

Russian ethylene production Jan-Nov 2025

Russian ethylene production totalled 4.088 million tons in the first eleven months in 2025 against 4.206 million tons in the same perioin 2024. 

ZapSibNeftekhim at Tobolsk reduced ethylene production from 1.426 million tons in January to November in 2024 to 1.410 million tons in January to November 2025.  Production in the Volga region amounted to 1.990 million tons in January to November versus 2.022 million tons in the same period in 2024.  The Volga region includes producers Nizhnekamskneftekhim, Kazanorgsintez, Gazprom neftekhim Salavat and Ufaorgsintez.  Of the Volga plants only Nizhnekamskneftekhim increased output in 2025. 

Russian propylene production Jan-Nov 2025

Russian propylene production totalled 2.350 million tons in January to November 2025 against 2.308 million tons in January to November 2024.  ZapSibNeftekhim at Tobolsk produced 909,827 tons against 848,179 tons in the same period in 2024.  The Volga-Urals region increased production from a total of 873,701 tons in January to November 2024 to 890,827 tons in January to November 2025.   

Russian butadiene production Jan-Nov 2025

Russian butadiene production totalled 478,492 tons in January to November 2025 against 521,687 tons in January to November 2024.  ZapSibNeftekhim at Tobolsk produced 180,477 tons against 203,670 tons in the same period in 2024.  The Volga-Urals region decreased production from a total of 289,872 tons in January to November 2024 to 268,262 tons in January to November 2025.   

Russian aromatics production Jan-Nov 2025

Aromatics production in Russia decreased by 6.5% in the first eleven months in 2025 compared to 2024.  Benzene production totalled 1.154 million tons in the first eleven months, down from 1.247 million tons Tin 2024.  Benzene production in 2025 was declining. The use of benzene for synthesis decreased due to the problems of metallurgists, and the inefficiency of processing in comparison with exports.  In the domestic market if the cost of benzene for synthesis, calculated from the export netback for raw benzene, is higher than the price required by the consumer, the raw material will be exported. 

Commercial production of aromatics in 2026 will be determined by the ratio of the fuel alternative to the involvement of aromatics, the situation in the derivatives market and the export alternative to benzene.  In a negative scenario, a further reduction in the production of caprolactam is possible.

Toluene production decreased from 356,899 tons to 314,189 tons in January to November 2025.  Despite the fall consumption for TNT, toluene production continues to grow. 

Russian plastics production Jan-Nov 2025

Russian bulk plastics production amounted to 9.788 million tons in the first eleven months in 2025 against 9.980 million tons in January to November 2024 and against 9.768 million tons in January to November 2023.  

Despite the stability in Russian polymer production, the industry faces some significant challenges from the stagnating domestic market   Weak domestic consumption last year led to a drop in prices to multi-year lows.  In 2023 and 2024 demand for plastics was aided significantly from the short-term benefits of spending in the military sector, but 2025 showed that the market had tended to peak.  

The situation is exacerbated by the structural problems of the industry including a shortage of special raw materials, dependence on imports in some product areas and a shortage of engineering personnel. Additional pressure is created by the proposal of the Ministry of Natural Resources to multiply the rates of the environmental fee, which, according to industry assessments, may lead to the closure of some plants.

Russian ethylene polymer production production Jan-Nov 2025

Production of ethylene polymers amounted to 3.319 million tons in January to November, slightly up from the 3.002 million tons last year.  The largest plant for the production of ethylene polymers is ZapSibNeftekhim at Tobolsk, located in the Ural Federal District.  Production at ZapSibNeftekhim totalled 1.432 million tons in January to November last year against 1.335 million tons in the same period in 2024.