High ethylene forces Basell to cut back Plock HDPE

12 June 2007 17:37  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Basell will bring down its 320,000 tonne/year high density polyethylene (HDPE) plant in Plock, Poland, for four to five days this week due to the lack of affordable ethylene, a company source said on Tuesday.

“We will take the time to do some work on the unit,” the source added.

Basell had stopped new orders for June of HDPE film and blow moulding from its Polish plant this week, the source explained.

Ethylene spot prices were firm at €920-930/tonne FD (free delivered) NWE (northwest Europe) with the current contract at €890/tonne FD NWE.

The bi-monthly June-July contract was up €40/tonne, at €925/tonne FD NWE.

HDPE prices have been increasing steadily over the past three months and buyers were again faced with increases for June.

HDPE blow moulding prices were trading at €1,280-1,290/tonne ($1,708-1,720/tonne) FD NWE), according to global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

(€1 = $0.75)

By: Linda Naylor
+44 20 8652 3214

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