Russia"s output of chemical products rose in April 2019 only by 1% year on year. However, production of basic chemicals increased by 2.8% in the first five months of 2019, according to Rosstat"s data.

According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, ethylene accounted for the largest increase in production year on year.

262,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced last month, compared to 263,000 tonnes in April. Thus, 1,318,000 tonnes of this olefin were produced in January-May 2019, up by 4.1% year on year.

May production of benzene was 128,000 tonnes, compared to 121,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of this product reached 618,000 tonnes in the first five months of 2019, up by 0.9% year on year.

May production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) was 107,000 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) versus 103,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of caustic soda totalled 535,000 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 514,800 tonnes a year earlier.

2,098,000 tonnes of mineral fertilizers (in terms of 100% nutrients) were produced in May versus 2,249,000 tonnes a month earlier.  Overall, Russian plants produced 10,404,000 tonnes of fertilizers in January-May 2019, up by 1.6% year on year.

Last month"s production of polymers in primary form decreased to 713,000 tonnes, up 1.1% from April. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 3,497,000,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by only 0.8%  year on year.

Source: MRC