Russian chemical production Jan-Apr 2025

Russian ethylene production amounted to 1.541 million tons in the first four months in 2025 against 1.616 million tons in 2024, whilst propylene production dropped from 939,426 tons to 883,939 tons.  Benzene production fell from 468,342 tons to 444,181 tons.  At the same time declines were reported for phenol, acetic acid and isopropanol. 

Ethylene glycol production dropped from 169,900 tons to 120,588 tons, mainly due to the reduction of ethylene deliveries from Kstovo to Dzerzhinsk in the early part of this year.  SIBUR-Kstovo’s olefin production was affected in February by the drone attack at the end of January, affecting ethylene oxide output.  Russian chemical products which saw increases in the first four months included methanol where production increased from 1.296 million tons in the first four months in 2024 to 1.399 million tons in 2025, and styrene monomer where production increased from 235,534 tons to 256,205 tons.

Russian polymer production Jan-Apr 2025

Russian production pf rubber and plastic products fell by 4.7% in April against April 2024, including a fall by 13.9% in the production of plastic pipes, tubes, hoses, etc.  Specifically in the rubber sector, the production of tyres dropped by 16.9% than in April last year.  Sales of passenger tyres in Russia in 2025 were forecast at the start of 2025 to drop this year due to the decline in sales of new passenger cars.  Car financing has become particularly unattractive with interest rates holding at 21%.

Despite the fall in tyre production synthetic rubber production still increased in the first four months, rising from 502,241 tons last year to 526,141 tons in the same period this year.  Lower domestic sales have been compensated almost exclusively by a large increase in exports to China. 

Notwithstanding the slowdown in April, Russian bulk plastics production still increased the production of bulk plastics in the first four months to 3.700 million tons against 3.670 million tons in the same period in 2024.  The production of polyethylene rose slightly from 565,028 tons to 599,319 million tons, whilst the production of propylene polymers dropped from 383,888 tons to 373,977 tons.  Polyamide production dropped from 46,484 tons to 43,794 tons, whilst the production of PET increased from 207,442 tons to 224,414 tons. 

EU tariffs on Russian fertiliser exports

The European Commission is introducing a base rate of 6.5% to apply on Russian fertilisers from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, with an additional duty of €40-45 per ton on nitrogen and complex fertilisers.  it is planned to systematically raise rates from 2026 to 2028.  Russian fertiliser producers have reported good profits from exports to the EU in the past two years but now they will have to focus on the more remote and less affluent markets such as in South America, Africa and Asia.

Russian ethylene production Jan-Apr 2025

Russian ethylene production totalled 1.541 million tons in the first four months in 2025 against 1.616 million tons in the same period in 2024.  ZapSibNeftekhim at Tobolsk produced 516,874 tons in January to April 2025, down from 543,186 tons from January to April 2024.  Stavrolen at Budyennovsk reduced production from 121,078 tons to 112,830 tons in 2025.

Production in the Volga region dropped from 773,176 tons in the first four months last year to 748,699 tons in the same period this year.  This is partly attributed to the stoppage in February at the SIBUR-Kstovo plant which suffered from a drone attack at the end of January.   

Nizhnekamskneftekhim’s new olefin complex EP-600 is undergoing the various technical stages of commissioning, and s already producing small volumes of ethylene.  The new plant is expected to gradually achieve its design capacity by the second half of 2025.  Ethylene from the new plant has already been sent to the derivative plants of Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Kazanorgsintez.  Naphtha used by the EP-600 cracker is produced by mainly by the nearby Taneko refinery. 

Russian propylene production Jan-Apr 2025

Russian propylene production totalled 883,927 tons in the first four months in 2025 against 910,424 tons in the same period in 2024.  ZapSibNeftekhim at Tobolsk produced 339,302 tons in January to April 2025 against 369,081 tons in the same period last year whilst the plants in the Volga region increased production from 315,272 tons to 326,593 tons.  Production at the Budyennovsk plant in the North Caucasus dropped from 51,032 tons to 48,857 whilst in Siberia the combined production of the Tomsk and Angarsk plant resulted in 169,176 tons versus 175,040 tons last year.

Russian propylene domestic sales Jan-Apr 2025

Russian sales of propylene on the domestic merchant market amounted to 102,002 tons in the first four months in 2025 against 134,312 tons in January to April 2024.   

Lukoil-NNOS increased propylene sales from 71,018 tons in the first four months from 47,043 tons in the same period in 2024.  SIBUR-Kstovo reduced sales from 64,366 tons in the first four months in 2024 to 15,926 tons in the same period this year.  Production at SIBUR-Kstovo was disrupted by Ukrainian drone strikes at the end of January.  ZapSibNeftekhim reduced purchases of propylene in the first four months to 8,993 tons against 25,834 tons in the same period in 2024.  Saratovorgsintez increased purchases from 47,769 tons to 59,407 tons.  Saratovorgsintez uses propylene for the production of acrylonitrile. 

Russian plastics production Jan-Apr 2025

Russian bulk plastics production amounted to 3.700 million tons in January to April 2025 against 3.670 million tons in the same period in 2024.  Production has reached record levels despite recent signs of market slowdown.  In particular, pipe production from polymers declined from 351,736 tons in the first four months in 2024 to 302,466 tons in the same period in 2025. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia is working until 2030 to introduce a ban on the production of polymer packaging, such as packaging from expanded polystyrene, and films (PE, PP, PVC) with a thickness of less than 20 microns, as well as blister packaging (PVC, PET, PS, PP). 

Production of ethylene polymers in Russia amounted to 1.276 million tons in January to April 2025, up from 1.207 million tons in the same period in 2024. 

Regional production of ethylene polymers Jan-Apr 2025

The largest plant for the production of ethylene polymers is ZapSibNeftekhim at Tobolsk, located in the Ural Federal District.  ZapSibNeftekhim produced 532,458 tons in the first four months in 2025 against 553,957 tons in January to April 2024, nearly all of which comprised main polyethylene grades HDPE and LLDPE.

The second largest region in Russia is the Volga Federal District where production rose from 353,108 tons in January to April 2024 to 436,706 tons in January to April 2025.  The Volga district includes producers from Bashkortostan including Gazprom neftekhim Salavat and Ufaorgsintez, and from Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Kazanorgsintez.   Both companies in Tatarstan have increased production this year. 

SIBUR’s new pipeline connection between Nizhnekamsk and Kazan

While Gazprom is still considering whether to expand ethane supplies to Tatarstan, which would provide the extra feedstock for Kazanorgsintez, SIBUR is looking for ways to provide ethylene directly to the petrochemical complex at Kazan.   

Instead of using the old ethylene pipeline between Nizhnekamsk and Kazan, which was built in the 1970s, SIBUR intends to build a new pipeline with an ethylene throughput capacity of 500,000 tpa.  The new pipeline will run along a completely new route from the existing pipeline.

After the construction and start-up of the new EP-600 cracker at Nizhnekamskneftekhim SIBUR has been examining ways to monetize ethylene from the new complex.  One of the best options turned out to be to increase the production of polyethylene at Kazanorgsintez where SIBUR estimates it could sell around 141,000 tpa or 22% of total production from the new plant.  Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Kazanorgsintez both are developing production facilities, but it is not economic to build ethylene facilities on each site.  SIBUR has assessed that it is much more profitable to introduce capacity at one enterprise and feed the second from that plant.

Russian polyethylene trade Jan-Apr 2025

Russian polyethylene exports to China increased from 147,085 tons in January to April 2024 to 168,833 tons in the same period in 2025, with both HDPE and LDPE showing rises.   Average prices for Russian polyethylene exports to China dropped from $872.8 per ton to $851.7 per ton in the first four months in 2025. 

Inward shipments of polyethylene from China into Russia dropped in the first four months to 23,183 tons against 28,951 tons in January to April 2024.  Average prices increased from $1381.2 per ton to $1543.4 per ton in this year.

The largest volume of imports consisted of ethylene-hexene copolymers where shipments into Russia amounted to 7,162 tons against 7,959 tons in the same period in 2024.  The production of ethylene-hexene polymers is currently not possible in Russia.  A hexene plant is currently under construction at Nizhnekamsk which will allow the production of ethylene-hexene polymers in 2026.  For other product areas, Chinese shipments of HDPE to the Russian market dropped from 5,444 tons in the first four months in 2024 to 2,347 tons in the same period this year whilst LLDPE volumes stayed the same at 4,986 tons. 

Imports of polyethylene shipments into Russia from South Korea dropped in the first four months to 18,525 tons from 46,378 tons in the same period last year.  Average prices increased from $1221.6 per ton to $1262.4 per ton.

Russian polypropylene production Jan-Apr 2025

Russian production of propylene polymers totalled 761,323 tons in the first four months in 2025 against 765,750 million tons in the same period in 2024.  ZapSibNeftekhim reduced production from 402,078 tons to 383,552 tons in January to April 2025, whilst Stavrolen at Budyennovsk reduced production slightly from 47,317 tons to 47,021 tons.   The Siberian Federal District includes polypropylene plants at Omsk and Tomsk, whilst the Volga region includes plants at Nizhnekamsk and Ufa. 

SIBUR has developed a new grade of polypropylene for the production of corrugated pipes. The current demand of the domestic market is estimated at around 36,000 tpa.   Previously, the demand of domestic manufacturers of corrugated pipes was met mainly by imports.

SIBUR is currently constructing another polypropylene plant at Tobolsk.  This will be facilitated by the completion of the construction of the DGP-2 facility, which is currently being built on the territory of ZapSibNeftekhim at Tobolsk. The capacity of the new plant will be 570,000 tons of polypropylene per year. The launch of production is scheduled for 2027. It is expected that after reaching the design capacity, tax revenues to the regional budget will amount to about 100 billion roubles over the next decade.

Russian polypropylene trade Jan-Apr 2024

Revenues from Russian exports of polypropylene homo grade to China increased from $34.644 million in the first four months last year to $48.758 million in the same period in 2025.  Volumes increased from 40,918 tons to 56,577 tons.   

Chinese exports of propylene polymers dropped to 9,036 tons in the first four months against 12,035 tons in the same period last year.  Prices amounted to $2233.4 per ton in 2025, up from $1619.0 in 2024.  China largely exports higher value grades of propylene polymers to Russia.  South Korean exports of propylene copolymers dropped in the first four months to 8,151 tons against 15,216 tons in the same period in 2024.

Russian PVC market Jan-Apr 2025

PVC suspension imports from China into Russia increased from 24,351 tons in the first four months in 2024 to 38,497 tons in the same period in 2025.  Emulsion grade imports increased from 21,598 tons to 36,712 tons.  Overall PVC shipments from China to Russia increased from 45,949 tons in the first four months in 2024 to 75,209 tons in the same period this year. 

The main reason for the increase in 2025 is down to the forced stoppage of the RusVinyl plant at Kstovo in February and part of March.  As Russia’s largest PVC producer RusVinyl had to stop production after the SIBUR-Kstovo was hit by Ukrainian drones at the end of January which meant that ethylene production was forced to stop.  The RusVinyl complex links to SIBUR-Kstovo by pipeline for ethylene supplies.  Around 30% of PVC and almost 9% of ethylene in Russia are produced in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

Overall the production of Russian PVC suspension grade dropped in the first four months in 2025 to 270,176 tons against 273,049 tons in the same period in 2024.  Production of PVC suspension grade in Siberia fell from 106,146 tons to 81,440 tons in the first four months this year.  Emulsion grade PVC production dropped from 9,903 tons in January to April 2024 to 7,503 tons in the same period in 2025. 

Assets of Sayanskkhimplast seized by the state

The assets of Sayanskkhimplast have been seized by the state as part of the government’s renationalisation process.  The reason for the seizure was cited In order to prevent the withdrawal of capital abroad, although the real reason is to impose state control over as much of industry as possible.   The Prosecutor General s Office of the Russian Federation filed a lawsuit against the owners of the company in April 2025.  The state claimed irregularities in share dealings, capital control, etc.  Sayanskkhimplast has denied all accusations affirming that the activities were invariably built on strict compliance with the principle of legality.  Sayanskkhimplast occupies around a share of about 32% in the Russian PVC market, with assets are estimated at 78.8 billion roubles.  The company s revenue in 2024 amounted to 23 billion roubles, and net profit 21 million roubles.  Sayanskkhimplast is now expected to be amalgamated into the Roskhim state holding. 

Russian PX-PTA-PET production Jan-Apr 2025

Russian paraxylene production amounted to 86,431 tons in the first four months of 2025 against 85,923 tons in the same period in 2024.  Gazprom Neft at Omsk reduced production from 30,919 tons to 20,448 tons whilst Ufaneftekhim increased production from 38,716 tons to 47,956 tons.

PTA production at Polief amounted to 113,130 tons in the first four months in 2025 against 117,252 tons in the same period last year. 

Russian PET production Jan-Apr 2025

Ekopet produced 82,820 tons of PET in the first four months in 2025 against 66,552 tons in the same period in 2024, whilst the combined plants of Senezh and SIBUR-PETF produced 69,371 tons versus 66,605 tons.  Polief reduced PET production in the first four months in 2025 to 72,222 tons versus 74,285 tons last year. 

PET production in Russia amounted to a total of 224,414 tons in the first four months in 2025 against 207,442 tons in the same period in 2024.  Ekopet increased production to 82,820 tons against 66,552 tons in the same period last year.

The largest month for Russian PET production last year was in January when volumes totalled 56,423 tons and the smallest in February at 48,213 tons.  The volume of Russian PET consumption in 2024 was estimated at 868,000 tons against 882,000 tons in 2023.  From the total consumption recycled PET accounted for around 20%, amounting to 219,000 tons in 2024. 

Russian PTA imports Jan-Apr 2025

Russian PTA imports from China amounted to 131,129 tons in the first four months in 2025 versus 88,454 tons in the same period in 2024 and 85,412 tons in 2023.  Nearly all of the PTA imports from China were shipped to Ekopet at Kaliningrad by rail.  PTA import prices averaged $631.3 in the first four months which was down from $760.6 in January to April 2024.  Values of PTA imports amounted to $82.778 million against $67.281 million in the first four months in 2024.

Besides PTA, Russia imported 30,763 tons of MEG from China in the first four months against 35,173 tons in the same period in 2024.  Prices rose from €577.3 per ton to €589.2 per ton. 

Russian PET-trade Jan-Apr 2025

Chinese shipments of PET to Russia amounted to 76,962 tons in the first four months in 2025 against 74,607 tons in the same period in 2024.  Costs of Chinese PET import shipments into Russia rose from $65.702 million to $80.598 million, which meant that average prices fell from $880.6 per ton to $1047.2 per ton.  Besides some small volumes from Belarus, China is almost the only source of PET imports into Russia. 

There is a shortage of PET in Russia, but it is not possible to increase production due to the lack of PTA.  As alternatives to PET, polypropylene already prevails, the production capacity of which exceeds the needs of the domestic market.  

Russian synthetic rubber production Jan-Apr 2025

Synthetic rubber production in Russia amounted to 526,141 tons in January to April 2025 against 502,241 tons in the corresponding period in 2024.   Production tended to stabilise over the course of 2024 and has continued into 2025 but remains lower than prior to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

The Volga region accounted for 402,616 tons of Russian synthetic rubber production in the first four months in 2025 against 357,027 tons in the same period in 2024.  This region provides the main basis for synthetic rubber production in Russia and includes producers Nizhnekamskneftekhim, Togliattikaucuk, and Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant. 

Omsk Kaucuk is the sole synthetic rubber producer in the Siberian region, where production increased from 35,702 tons in January to April 2024 to 37,898 tons in the same period this year.     Voronezhsintezkaucuk is the main producer of synthetic rubber in the Central Federal District of Russia, where volumes dropped from 108,862 tons in the first four months in 2024 to 85,272 tons this year.   Production was reduced at Voronezhsintezkaucuk in the early part this year due to the side-effects of drone attacks In late 2024.   

Synthetic rubber production by category Jan-Apr 2025

Isoprene rubber was the largest category of synthetic rubber production in Russia in the first four months amounting to 107,097 tons against 88,015 tons in the same period last year.  Niznekamskneftekhim is the largest producer, followed by Togliattikaucuk and the smallest producer Sterlitamak Petrochemical Combine.

Isoprene rubber was followed by butadiene rubber where production amounted to 93,801 tons in the first four months against 94,195 tons in January to April 2024.   The production of butadiene methylstyrene rubber rose in the first four months last year from 71,708 tons to 80,910 tons this year whilst rubber production from olefins dropped from 93,727 tons to 85,413 tons.    The highest value rubber sold by Russia is halogenated butyl rubber where production dropped from 52,905 tons in the first four months last year to 51,594 tons.

Russian Chinese rubber trade Jan-Apr 2025

Russian export revenues from synthetic rubber shipments to China totalled $432.221 million in January to April 2025 against $325.411 million in the same period in 2024.  By volume Russian shipments of synthetic rubber to China amounted to 273,097 tons in the first four months in 2025, which was up from 205,621 tons in the same period in 2024.  Butadiene rubber exports represented the largest category, rising from 43,918 tons in the first four months in 2024 to 54,443 tons.  Exports of thermoplastic elastomers increased sharply from 25,384 tons to 44,963 tons.  Isoprene rubber exports rose from 25,384 tons to 26,835 tons.   Butyl rubber exports increased to 46,338 tons from 44,805 tons in January to April 2024. 

Russian methanol production Jan-Apr 2025

Russia produced 1.399 million tons of methanol in the first four months in 2025 against 1.296 million tons in the same period in 2024.  Production amounted to 359,086 tons in April this year, the second largest amount this year after 365,120 tons in January. 

The Volga region, including Metafrax Chemicals, Tomet and Ammoni, increased total production from 557,520 tons to 679,676 tons in the same period in 2025.  The Siberian Federal District (including Gazprom Methanol and Angarsk Petrochemical) increased production from 245,649 tons to 268,151 tons.   The Central region, which includes Shchekinoazot and Azot at Novomoskovsk, reduced production from 402,721 tons to 346,382 tons.  The Novomoskovsk plant has been idle since last year and is unlikely to restart. 

Regarding some of the smaller producers, Azot at Nevinnomyssk reduced production from 32,675 tons to 31,534 tons which correlated with the increase in acetic acid production.  Other plants where methanol is consumed internally include Akron, Angarsk Petrochemical and Novatek.  Akron uses methanol for formaldehyde production; Angarsk Petrochemical uses methanol for MTBE and Novatek uses methanol for gas processing.

Russian methanol exports Jan-Apr 2025

Russian methanol exports amounted to 556,126 tons in January to April 2025 versus 435,013 tons in the same period in 2024.  Shchekinoazot reduced exports slightly from 167,011 tons to 166,679 tons, whilst Metafrax Chemicals increased shipments from 78,398 tons to 147,681 tons.   Tomet increased exports from 56,017 tons to 114,687 tons in January to April 2025.  Gazprom Methanol increased exports to 122,999 tons from 98,940 tons last year.   Azot at Novomoskovsk stopped exporting after August last year due to vulnerability of the Kavkaz port to drone attacks.  

Russian exports to China amounted to 278,479 tons in the first four months in 2025 against 299,989 tons in the same period in 2024.  Export prices to China increased from $280.4 per ton to $306.8 this year.  Overall price fluctuations for shipments to China have been modest since the start of 2023, but the costs of logistics have risen and thus margins for Chinese shipments have become tighter.   Export volumes to Turkey increased from 69,462 tons in the first four months last year to 132,669 tons this year and margins are higher than for China.  A new destination in 2025 consisted of Brazil where shipments amounted to 65,902 tons in the first four months.

Russian methanol domestic sales, Jan-Apr 2025

Whilst exports have increased this year domestic merchant sales of methanol dropped in the first four months in 2025 to 494,853 tons against 542,567 tons in the same period in 2024.  Metafrax Chemicals reduced domestic merchant sales to 163,947 tons against 176,279 tons last year.  By the end of this year, Metafrax Chemicals plans to complete the technical re-equipment of the methanol loading and unloading rack which is designed to help in the logistics chain.  In the first four months in 2025 Gazprom Methanol at Tomsk reduced domestic merchant sales to 109,535 tons measured against 126,081 tons last year. 

The methanol market in Russia saw a major shift in the first four months this year with production higher by over 100,000 tons, exports up by over 120,000 tons and domestic merchant sales down by nearly 50,000 tons.  Domestic merchant sales reflect the general economic climate, and thus the increase in production has been fuelled by higher export activity.  Profitability is much reduced since the ban on European trade and thus producers continue to face a number of internal and external challenges.

Exporting companies have been forced to reorient themselves to new markets with lower margins, face an increase in the cost of export logistics and the turnover period of railway tanks.  Whilst export shipments to China have been slightly lower in the first four months in 2025, increased sales have been made to Turkey and at the same time Brazil has emerged as a destination for Russian methanol. 

New Russian law on methanol usage records to apply in September 2025

A new law on the regulation of the turnover of methanol and methanol-containing liquids is being introduced in Russia this year.  From 1 September, a complete ban on the retail sale of methanol comes into force.  As part of the new law, a register of organisations that participate in the circulation of methanol will also be created. This register will include producers, sellers, carriers and enterprises that use methanol in their production.   The requirements for methanol market participants will create additional costs for market participants. 

All transactions related to methanol will have to be made in writing between the participants of the register with the mandatory indication of their registry numbers.  In addition, the Russian government will receive the authority to determine the specifics of the seizure of methanol, equipment for its production and methanol-containing liquids.  The measure was originally invented as part of the fight against mass poisoning with low-quality alcohol.  However, the authors of the law could not explain how the ban on the legal sale of methanol can prevent its illegal use in the production of alcoholic beverages.  

Russian butanol production Jan-Apr 2025

Russian normal butanol production increased from 44,179 tons in January to April 2024 to 51,358 tons in the same period in 2025.  The Volga region, which includes SIBUR-Khimprom, increased production from 30,110 tons to 41,945 tons. 

Russian solvent production Jan-Apr 2025

The volume of production of low and medium-tonnage chemicals in Russia has been rising over the past few years, increasing by around 60% in 2024 measured against 2020.  Consumption has not changed significantly over that period, but a range of products including isopropanol, melamine, maleic anhydride, and hydrogen peroxide, have all contributed to creating a domestic supply base.

Russian acetic acid production amounted to 66,690 tons in January to April 2025 against 64,575 tons in 2024.  The largest and most important producer in Russia, Azot at Nevinnomyssk, increased production from 48,630 tons to 49,217 tons.  Aside using acetic acid for the production of butyl acetate and methyl acetate Azot supplies merchant acetic to the Russian domestic market.  The two largest customers include Polief which purchases acetic acid for PTA and Stavrolen which uses acetic acid in the production of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM). 

Isopropanol production in Russia amounted to 20,791 tons in January to April 2025 against 22,964 tons in the same period in 2024.  Omsk Kaucuk reduced production from 11,263 tons to 7,976 tons whilst the Plant at Synthetic Alcohol at Orsk reduced production from 11,701 tons to 12,815 tons.   Omsk Kaucuk only started isopropanol production in 2020 and only achieved high utilisation rates in 2023.  As part of the Titan Group, Omsk Kaucuk sent its first batch of 10 tons to Titan-Polymer at Pskov,  which is designed to help the production process in BOPET film.

In other product areas, Russian polyacrylate production totalled 47,544 tons in the first four months in 2025, up from 43,845 tons in the same period in 2024.  The largest region in Russia for the production of polyacrylates is the Central Federal District where SIBUR-Neftekhim produces at Dzerzhinsk.  Currently SIBUR is the only producer of these light esters in Russia, as well as the heavy ester of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate. 

Phthalic anhydride production in Russia totalled 31,866 tons in the first four months in 2025 against 29,598 tons in the same period in 2024.  Kamteks-Khimprom at Perm is the largest producer followed by Gazprom neftekhim Salavat, and together these two plants produced 75,446 tons in 2024.  Kamteks-Khimprom produces phthalic anhydride and dioctyl phthalate, as well as fumaric and benzoic acids.  The company s revenue increased from 5.6 billion roubles in 2023 to 6 billion roubles in 2024, but the net profit decreased from 690.7 million roubles to 503 million roubles. 

Maleic anhydride production in Russia totalled 14,933 tons in the first four months in 2025, against 12,657 tons in the same period last year.  Consumption of maleic anhydride in the Russian market in 2024 in amounted to 11,200 tons against 11,000 tons in the previous year.  The market has been helped by the start-up of the plant at Tobolsk in 2022, which was constructed using Italian technology. 

TDI imports into Russia Jan-Apr 2025

TDI imports into Russia from South Korea amounted to 4,200 tons in the first four months against 5,082 tons in the same period last year.  Prices dropped from $2002.9 per ton to $1873.0 per ton.

TDI imports from China into Russia dropped in the first four months to 5,534 tons versus 11,000 tons in the same period in 2024, with average prices dropping to $2067.1 per ton from $2016.3 per ton.   

Polyol exports from China to Russia dropped in the first four months last year from $41.943 million to $32.677 million.  By volume exports dropped from 41,943 tons to 32,677 tons.

Chinese MDI shipments to Russia Jan-Apr 2025

Imports of MDI from China amounted to 27,716 tons in the first four months in 2025 against 29,869 tons in the same period in 2024.  Costs of imports dropped from $58.564 million to $55.178 million.  Average prices increased from $1970.7 per ton to $1990.9 per ton.  In addition to MDI imports into Russia from China, Russia imported 1,953 tons in the first four months from South Korea. 

More than 65% of all polyurethanes in Russia are consumed by three industries: mechanical engineering (23%), furniture manufacturing (24%) and the construction industry (19%).   Russia consumes a lot of polyurethane foam but the production of the raw material base is still a weak link.  

Kazakh PP exports Jan-Apr 2025

Exports of polypropylene to China from Kazakhstan amounted to 18,340 tons in the first two months in 2025 against 26,458 tons in the same period in 2024.  Exports of polypropylene from Kazakhstan to China dropped over the full year in 2024 to 88,853 tons against 105,966 tons in 2023. The decline is due to the diversification of exports to other destinations.  By contrast exports to Russia amounted to 93,605 tons in 2024.

The company plans to produce 487,500 tons of polypropylene, whilst supplies to the domestic market will increase to around 30,000 tons.  The plant, which cost $2.6 billion to build, was commissioned at the end of 2022.

Central Asian PVC imports from China

China is the major supplier of PVC to Central Asia.  The largest consumer of PVC in Central Asia is Uzbekistan, which accounts for more than half of the total consumption of PVC in Central Asia. The share of Kazakhstan is 31%.

In the first four months in 2025 China exported 83,304 tons of PVC to Uzbekistan, down from 91,666 tons in the same period in 2024 whilst shipments to Kazakhstan rose to 61,585 tons from 55,934 tons. Currently the only PVC producer in Central Asia is Navoiazot in Uzbekistan. The production of suspension PVC with a capacity of 100,000 tpa was launched at the end of 2019 as part of the caustic soda and methanol production complex. Despite the capacity Navoiazot only produces around 50,000 tpa of PVC and thus and the share of imports is still high at 60-65%.  Consumption in 2019 amounted to around 95,000 tons in 2019, and has risen by around 2% per annum, totalling 104,000 tons in 2024.

At present three projects (two in Uzbekistan and one in Kazakhstan) with a total capacity of 540,000 tpa are at the implementation stage and are in development. The Central Asian countries do not have access to sea routes, with the exception of the Caspian (inland) Sea, so partners, including Russian ones, will be engaged in the sale of products for export. Chinese companies enter the project as engineering contractors and licensors. 

SOCAR Jan-Apr 2025

Azerbaijan produced 143,600 tons of methanol in January-April 2025, which is 8.5% less than in the corresponding period in 2024.  Azerbaijan exported 121,698 tons of methanol in the first four months which was down (a decrease of 17.8%).  At the same time, the value of the volume of export products increased by 24.6%, amounting to $36.365 million, with process rising from $207.5 per ton to $298.8 in 2025. 

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