Polimeri Europa begins start-up of LDPE in Dunkirk, France

28 January 2011 12:55  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS)--Polimeri Europa has started work on its 200,000 tonne/year low density polyethylene (LDPE) line in Dunkirk, France, which has been down since August 2010, a company source said on Friday.

“Preliminary actions for the start-up of the LDPE line in Dunkirk have started. Force majeure is still in place and will be lifted only when the build-up of stocks is satisfactory for a sustainable business,” said the source.

The Dunkirk PE site went down for a two-month planned maintenance outage in August 2010, but while the 140,000 tonne/year linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) plant came back on line in November, the LDPE line remained out of action.

Polimeri Europa declared force majeure on LDPE from the site on 14 January.

LDPE availability had been tight and prices rose by €110/tonne ($151/tonne) in January. Producers were now looking to increase prices again in February, by €25-80/tonne.

Buyers did not see the possibility of a large increase in February, but discussions had not yet got underway.

The LDPE net price range is currently at €1,420-1,450/tonne FD (free delivered) NWE (northwest Europe).

LDPE is used mainly for film and coating applications in the packaging and agricultural industries.

($1 = €0.73)

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By: Linda Naylor
+44 20 8652 3214

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