Russian exports of polypropylene in the January-May period of 2016 fell 21% to 145,874 mt from 185,521 mt in the same period a year earlier, according to data released by the Federal Customs Service Tuesday.
The biggest importer of polypropylene in the first five months of this year was Belarus, followed by China and then Turkey. The three countries took in 25,797 mt, 21,552 mt and 14,139 mt, respectively, to account for 42% of Russia’s January-May exports.
Exports to Belarus, China and Turkey fell 36%, 48% and 62% respectively, compared with the same period in 2015.
Exports to Europe had maintained strength while those elsewhere had decreased. Exports to Belgium, Europe’s largest importer of Russian material, came to 12,273 mt in January-May 2016, up 0.25% from 2015.
Russian exports increased through 2015 as a result of the devaluation of the Russian ruble against the euro and dollar, a recovery this year has curbed polymer exports somewhat.
The ruble hit a low of under 50 against the dollar in 2015, on Monday the ruble closed at 63.83 to the dollar.
