Russian exports and imports of polystyrene rose 19% and 17% on the year in 2016 to 69,048 mt and 44,734 mt, respectively, according to latest data from the country's Federal Customs Service.
Higher exports were driven by larger deliveries to Lithuania.
Exports to Lithuania jumped to 18,531 mt in 2016 from 907 mt in 2015.
A boost in imports was due to higher volumes imported from South Korea.
Deliveries from South Korea rose to 16,916 mt from 12,723 mt.
Net Russian exports of PS rose 23% on the year to 24,314 mt.
As for expandable polystyrene, exports rose 15% on the year to 30,305 mt, though imports fell 17% to 24,116 mt.
The decline in imports flipped Russia's EPS net position from a net importer of 2,494 mt in 2015 to net exporter of 6,190 mt in 2016.
