Indian PE, PP makers raise list prices on tight supply

01 August 2011 07:26  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Indian polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) producers have again raised the list prices of their products because of short domestic supply and firmer import prices, industry sources said on Monday.

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), GAIL (India), Indian Oil and Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL) announced an increase of Indian rupees (Rs) 1-2/kg (Rs1,000-2,000/tonne, $23-45/tonne) for all PE grades and Rs2-3/kg for all PP grades, with effect from 1 August.

The new PE prices are at Rs78.50-81.00/kg DEL (delivered) for high density PE (HDPE) film, Rs78.50-80.00/kg DEL for LLDPE film and Rs90.00-90.50/kg DEL for low density PE (LDPE) film, including a 10.3% excise duty.

The new PP raffia prices are at Rs88.00-89.50/kg DEL, while prices of injection, isotatic PP (IPP) film, bi-axially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film and block copolymer grades now stand at Rs87.00-89.00/kg DEL, Rs89.00-90.50/kg DEL, Rs89.00-90.00/kg DEL and Rs90.00-92.00/kg DEL respectively.

The producers increased their prices after frantic import activity in the last week of July.

Import material was wiped out soon after offers were announced earlier in the week. On 29 July, Middle East cargoes for shipment in August were booked at $1,450/tonne (€1,001/tonne) CFR (cost & freight) Mumbai for HDPE film, $1,440-1,450/tonne CFR Mumbai for linear low density PE (LLDPE) film, $1,620/tonne CFR Mumbai for LDPE film, ICIS reported.

Middle East raffia fixtures were sealed at $1,580-1,600/tonne CFR Mumbai, while block copolymer fixtures were transacted at $1,600-1,670/tonne CFR Mumbai, market players said.

The prices at the low-end of the range were for cargoes from the Middle East, while those at the high-end of the range were for cargoes of South Korea-origin.

Local makers adjusted their PE list prices higher in July by Rs4-7/kg or 4.7-10.0% and PP by Rs4.5/kg or 5.3-5.5% (please see graph below).

“Everyone seems [to be] very optimistic that the uptrend will continue. It was expected that the local producers will raise their offers,” a Mumbai-based trader said.

“There is a high chance that the list prices will increase again in the near future by looking at the tight supply condition. Once the monsoon is over in [the middle of] or late August, demand will revive more significantly to support prices,” a second Mumbai-based trader said.

($1 = Rs44.21, $1 = €0.69)

For more on polyethylene and polypropylene, visit ICIS chemical intelligence
Please visit the complete ICIS plants and projects database

By: Ong Sheau Ling
+65 6780 4359

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly