Kazakhstan’s imports of polypropylene (PP) exceeded 21,800 tonnes in the first six months of this year, up 25% compared to the same period of 2019. PP exports fell by 8%, MRC analysts reported on Thursday.
Shipments of PP to Kazakhstan grew to 4,900 tonnes in June, from 4,700 tonnes in May, as local converters increased their purchases of homopolymer PP from Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Total PP imports in January-June 2020 compared with 17,500 tonnes over the similar period last year.
A forced turnaround of a local manufacturer's capacities led to a decrease in export sales.
Imports of propylene homopolymers in June were flat with May at slightly more than 4,200 tonnes, and while imports from producers in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan were up markedly, imports from other countries decreased.
Overall, imports of homopolymer PP reached 18,200 tonnes in the first six months of 2020, compared to 14,100 a year earlier.
Shipments of propylene copolymers rose to 613 tonnes in June from 453 tonnes a month earlier, local pipes producers raised their purchased volumes.
Imports of propylene copolymers reached 3,700 tonnes over the period as a result compared to 3,400 tonnes a year earlier.
Kazakhstan's PP exports over the first six months dropped to 9,900 tonnes, 10,800 tonnes in the similar period in 2019. Such a significant decrease in export volumes was due, among other things, to the long shutdown of local producer Neftekhim Ltd from April to June 2020.