PP imports to Ukraine decreased by 4% in January-July

MOSCOW (MRC)–Ukraine’s first-half polypropylene (PP) imports fell by 4% year on year with all grades registering a decline in shipments, according to a MRC’s DataScope report.

July imports rose to 14,400 tonnes against 13,400 tonnes a month earlier under the pressure of seasonal factors and the relaxation of quarantine restrictions.

Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 75,600 tonnes in January-July compared to 79,000 tonnes a year earlier.

Demand for all grades decreased but propylene block copolymers (PP block copolymers) accounted for the largest reduction.

The structure of PP imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period:

July imports of homopolymers of propylene to the Ukrainian market grew to 11,100 tonnes from 10,900 tonnes a month earlier, with local companies increasing purchasing of homopolymer PP raffia in Russia.

Total homopolymer PP imports were 59,100 tonnes in January-July compared to 61,500 tonnes a year earlier.

July imports of PP block copolymers into the country amounted to a little more than 1,400 tonnes compared to 1,500 tonnes in June, with local companies decreasing the purchasing volume of pipe polypropylene.

Over the reporting period, around 7,100 tonnes of propylene block copolymers were imported against 7,500 tonnes for the same period in 2019.

July PP random copolymers imports increased to 1,700 tonnes from 700 tonnes a month earlier with local companies raising their purchasing of pipe PP random copolymers.

Overall PP random copolymers imports reached 8,300 tonnes in January-July compared to 8,900 tonnes a year earlier.

Imports of other propylene copolymers totalled slightly over 1,100 tonnes over the stated period.

MRC, a partner of ICIS, produces polymers news and pricing reports from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.