Polyethylene
ICIS pricing focuses on polyethylene in resin form, before it is converted into finished products. PE is used in a variety of products. It can be extruded or moulded into plastic containers like buckets, pouches, luggage, storage tanks, furniture and wires/cables. Other common uses are for film, packaging, plastic bags, stretch film etc.
Low density polyethylene (LDPE):
Low density polyethylene (LDPE) is used predominantly as a packaging film, either on its own or blended with linear low density PE to improve mechanical properties. Blown LDPE film has good processability due to a strain hardening effect of the polymer melt caused by the long branched, long chain structure of the polymer. It can be used in food and medical/pharmaceutical packaging in high purity grades as well as in agricultural film and disposable nappies. LDPE is also used in sheathing for electrical and communication cables, and the extrusion coating of paper and board for the packaging of liquids and in moisture barrier applications.
Properties
|
Molecular weight |
90 000 |
|
Melting index (g/10 minutes) |
0.2- 3.5 |
|
Density (at 20oC) |
0.92-0.93 |
|
Vicat softening point ( oC) |
93 |
|
Tensile strength (Mpa) |
12.4 |
|
Tensile elongation at rupture (%) |
653 |
|
Hardness (Rockwell D) |
41-46 |
Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE):
Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) is a thermoplastic which in many applications replaces its predecessor low density polyethylene (LDPE) or is used in blends with LDPE. LLDPE’s short chain branching gives it higher tensile strength, puncture and anti-tear properties, making it particularly suitable for film applications. Other outlets include injection moulding products and wire and cable. Metallocene-based LLDPE resins are penetrating the film and packaging markets due their enhanced physical properties while catalyst developments should improve their processability.
Properties
|
Density (at 20oC) |
0.916-0.94 |
|
Vicat softening point ( oC) |
101 |
|
Melting index (g/10 minutes) |
0.13-2.5 |
|
Tensile strength (Mpa) |
10-11 |
|
Tensile elongation at rupture (%) |
811 |
|
Hardness (Rockwell D) |
50-60 |
High density polyethylene (HDPE):
The major outlet for high density polyethylene (HDPE) is in blow moulding applications such as milk bottles, packaging containers, drums, fuel tanks for automobiles, toys and housewares. Film and sheet made from HDPE are used in a wide range of applications including wrapping, refuse sacks, carrier bags and industrial liners. Articles made by injection moulding includes crates, pallets, packaging containers and caps, paint cans, housewares and toys. Extrusion grades are typically used in pipe for water, gas and irrigation, conduit, wire coating and cable insulation.
Properties
|
Melting index (g/10 minutes) |
0.1-20.0 |
|
Density (at 20oC) |
0.94-0.965 |
|
Auto-ignition temp ( o F) |
550 |
|
Vicat softening point ( oC) |
127 |
|
Tensile strength (MPa) |
26.5 |
|
Tensile elongation at rupture % |
906 |
|
Hardness (Rockwell D) |
60-70 |
ICIS pricing quotes Polyethylene Europe, Asia-Pacific, China, the USA, Middle East/West Asia, Latin America and Africa.
Frequency:
Published weekly on Fridays, and the
Polyethylene (EUROPE)
The new FD EU quote represents gross delivered prices, later discounted, throughout Europe. It does not reflect net business in any part of Europe.
Weekly Price Assessments
LDPE GP Film Spot Prices (quoted on a net basis)
- FD NWE (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- CFR Turkey (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- EXW Russia Rb/MT (conversion to EUR/MT)
LDPE GP Film Domestic Prices (quoted on a gross basis)
- FD EU (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD UK (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD UK (
LLDPE Spot Prices
- FD NWE HEXENE C6 (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD NWE OCTENE C8 (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD NWE BUTENE C4 (EUR/MT & conversion to US
LLDPE Domestic Prices
- FD EU HEXENE C6 (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD EU OCTENE C8 (EUR/MT & conversion to US
LLDPE GP Film Domestic Prices
- FD EU (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD UK (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD UK (
LLDPE But Cast Stretch Film Domestic Prices
- FD NWE EU (EUR/MT & conversion to US
HDPE Injection Spot Prices
FD NWE (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- FOB NWE (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- CFR Turkey (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- EXW Russia Rb/MT (conversion to EUR/MT)
HDPE Injection Domestic Prices
- FD EU (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD UK (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD UK (
HDPE Blow Moulding Spot Prices
- FD NWE (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- CFR Turkey (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
HDPE Blow Moulding Domestic Prices
- FD EU (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD UK (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD UK (
HDPE Film Spot Prices
- FD NWE (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- CFR Turkey (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
HDPE Film Domestic Prices
- FD EU (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD UK (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD UK (
Polyethylene Feedstock Prices
- ETHYLENE FD NWE Quarterly (EUR/MT)
Polyethylene (
Weekly Price Assessments:
LDPE Film Spot Prices
LLDPE Film Spot Prices
HDPE Film Spot Prices
HDPE Injection Spot Prices
HDPE Blow Moulding Spot Prices
HDPE Monofilament
Polyethylene Feedstock Prices
ETHYLENE
Polyethylene (
Weekly Price Assessments:
Import Prices (spot) –
LDPE
LLDPE
HDPE
HDPE BLOW MOULDING (USD/MT)
HDPE INJECTION (USD/MT)
Import Prices (spot) –
LDPE
LLDPE
HDPE
HDPE BLOW MOULDING (CNY/MT)
HDPE INJECTION (USD/MT)
Domestic Prices (spot)
LDPE
LLDPE
HDPE
HDPE BLOW MOULDING EXWH (CNY /MT)
HDPE INJECTION EXWH (CNY/MT)
HDPE YARN EXWH (CNY/MT)
Regional Spot Prices
China Produced LDPE Film (spot)
NORTH
EAST
SOUTH
SOUTHWEST CHINA EXWH (CNY/MT)
NORTHEAST CHINA EXWH (CNY/MT)
Imported LDPE Film (spot)
NORTH
EAST
SOUTH
NORTHWEST CHINA EXWH (CNY/MT)
China Produced LLDPE Film (spot)
NORTH
EAST
SOUTH
SOUTHWEST CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
NORTHWEST CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
NORTHEAST CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
Imported LLDPE Film (spot)
NORTH
EAST
SOUTH
China Produced HDPE Film (spot)
NORTH
EAST
SOUTH
SOUTHWEST CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
Imported HDPE Film (spot)
NORTH
EAST
SOUTH
China Produced HDPE Blow Moulding (spot)
NORTH
EAST
SOUTH
Imported HDPE Blow Moulding (spot)
EAST
China Produced HDPE Injection (spot)
- NORTH CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
- EAST CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
- SOUTH CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
- SOUTHWEST CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
Imported HDPE Injection (Spot)
- NORTH CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
- EAST CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
China Produced HDPE Yarn (spot)
- NORTH CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
- EAST CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
- SOUTH CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
- SOUTHWEST CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
Imported HDPE Yarn (Spot)
- NORTH CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
- EAST CHINA EXWH (CNY /MT)
Polyethylene (USA)
Weekly Price Assessments:
LDPE Film Liner Grade Domestic Prices (
BULK (US
LDPE Film Hi-Clarity Homo Domestic Prices (
BULK (US
HDPE Blow Moulding Domestic Prices (
BULK (US
HDPE Injection Domestic Prices (
BULK (US
HDPE HMW Film Domestic Prices (
BULK (US
LLDPE Domestic Prices (
INJECTION (US
Spot
Export Spot Prices, Bagged Material
LDPE
LLDPE BUTENE
HDPE BLOW MOULDING
HDPE INJECTION
HDPE HMW BIMODL
Polyethylene Feedstock Contract Prices
ETHYLENE
Polyethylene (MIDDLE EAST/SOUTH
Weekly Price Assessments
LDPE Film Spot Prices
LLDPE Film Spot Prices
HDPE Film Spot Prices
HDPE Blow Moulding Spot Prices
HDPE Injection Spot Prices
HDPE Monofilament Yarn Spot Prices
* Cooperation Council for Arab States of the Gulf.
Polyethylene (LATIN AMERICA)
Weekly Price Assessments:
LDPE Film Linear Grade Domestic Prices
- FOT BRAZIL (US
- FOT COLOMBIA (US
- FOT MEXICO (US
- FOT VENEZUELA (US
LLDPE Butene Domestic Prices
- FOT BRAZIL (US
- FOT VENEZUELA (US
HDPE Blow Moulding Domestic Prices
- FOT BRAZIL (US
- FOT MEXICO (US
- FOT VENEZUELA (US
LDPE Film Linear Grade International Prices
- DAF MEXICO (US
LLDPE Butene International Prices
- DAF MEXICO (US
HDPE Blow Moulding International Prices
- DAF MEXICO (US
Polyethylene (AFRICA)
Weekly Price Assessments
LDPE Film Spot Prices
CFR NORTHERN AFRICA (USD/MT) with conversion into EUR/MT
CFR SOUTHERN AFRICA (USD/MT)
FD SOUTH AFRICA (ZAR/MT)
LLDPE Film Spot Prices
CFR NORTHERN AFRICA (USD/MT) with conversion into EUR/MT
CFR SOUTHERN AFRICA (USD/MT)
FD SOUTH AFRICA (ZAR/MT)
HDPE Film Spot Prices
CFR NORTHERN AFRICA (USD/MT) with conversion into EUR/MT
CFR SOUTHERN AFRICA (USD/MT)
FD SOUTH AFRICA (ZAR/MT)
General Information:
Assessment window: Price assessments are based on information supplied by market participants through the week up to close of business on Fridays at 1730 hours in London, Singapore, China and Houston. For the African report, price assessments are based on information supplied by market participants through the week up to close of business on Wednesdays at 1700 hours in London.
Specification: ICIS pricing assesses specifications as detailed in sections above.
Timing: Cargoes typically loading or delivered two-four weeks forward from the date of publication. In the China domestic market, cargoes are for delivery one week forward from the date of publication.
Terms: Typically 30-60 days after bill of lading date. Assessments for China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and India are based on a LC at sight basis only, although deals with differing credit terms will be taken into consideration. Spot delivered prices in Europe and USA are typically based on 30-60 days credit. In the China report, first-tier distributors’ price quotes are for payment at sight. In Africa, typically 30-90 days after bill of lading date
Standard cargo size: In Asia and the Middle East, bulk parcels are in the range of 100-1,000 tonnes. In the US, railcars are 170,000
Assessment basis: ICIS pricing polyethylene price assessments are based on information gathered from the market throughout the week. The assessment of prices takes into consideration the following: transactions and deals, bids and offers, buy and sell indications and notional discussions throughout the week. In the event of the lack of confirmed trades, published price ranges represent the highest bids received and the lowest sell indications of the week.
In Europe, domestic price assessments are quoted on a gross basis and do not take into account any discounts or rebates which may be applied on a case by case basis negotiable between individual suppliers and customers. Spot prices are net of discount. The European report includes a formal Russian rouble denominated spot price assessment for high density polyethylene and low density polyethylene. These figures are quoted on an ex-works basis and include 18% VAT. The Euro quote is a conversion based on the day’s exchange rate noted at the end of the report.
Domestic prices in the US are established on a delivered (DEL) basis, but a premium can be added for long distances. The domestic price ranges typically reflect contract prices for small-volume customers (10m-30m lb/year). Contracts can be freely negotiated, or index or monomer based, or any combination of these. Freely negotiated contracts are usually negotiated monthly, but terms are flexible. During a month, prices may change once, or more than once, or not at all. Spot export prices are net assessments reflecting wholesale transactions of 200-1,000 tonnes.
The Asia-Pacific report carries information on spot
In the China report, ex-warehouse prices are reflective of first-tier distributors’ businesses and include VAT. A first-tier distributor is a company that buys directly from a local producer or a foreign supplier.
The All China price quotes are reflective of the ex-warehouse (EXWH) prices of imported and local materials in north, south, east China, northeast China, northwest China and southwest China, depending on grades. North China prices cover Tianjin, Beijing, Henan, Hebei and Shandong. East China prices cover Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu. South China prices cover Guangdong and Fujian. Northeast prices cover Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning. Northwest prices cover Xinjiang, Gansu and Shaanxi. Southwest prices cover Chongqing and Sichuan.
The HDPE blow moulding ex-warehouse price quotes are reflective of materials used for producing containers of 50 litres or less. Offers, bids and transaction prices of HDPE blow moulding grade used in making containers of over 50 litres are mentioned in the text. The HDPE blow moulding ex-warehouse price quotes for south China may include netbacks from delivered prices to end-users.
The
|
2008 China import tariff (%) | |
|
LDPE* |
6.5 |
|
HDPE film |
6.5 |
|
HDPE blow moulding |
6.5 |
|
LLDPE |
6.5 |
The Middle East/South Asia report includes pricing information in the GCC, East Med, India and Pakistan. The GCC region includes Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E, while the East Med region comprises Israel, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt. Pricing information focuses primarily on imported material into each of these regions. Details of domestic trading activity and prices are also included in the report’s market commentary.
The Latin American report includes domestic and international prices of ldPE, hdPE and lldPE in key Latin American countries. Domestic prices in Brazil include a tax called PIS/COFINS that varies depending on destination. Although this tax is recoverable, buyers and sellers quote prices that include this tax (around 11 percent) on a regular basis.
All regional reports offer market commentary that includes details of traced transactions, news on the supply/demand balance, export/import information, contract price negotiations and general sentiment for price direction. Where applicable, there is product information, comments on up and downstream market developments and general market intelligence.
The Africa report carries information on spot CFR prices, for lots of 100-500 tonnes. Import and domestic prices for western and eastern Africa are mentioned in the text. Western African covers main ports in Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria. Eastern Africa covers main ports in Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania. Northern Africa covers main ports in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Sudan. Southern Africa covers main ports in Namibia, Mozambique and South Africa. The northern Africa quote does not include import tariffs.
Printer Friendly|
|
INSIGHT: Government challenge on Teesside is to enable the enablers
“Coxon reckons the goal is to create new, potentially high growth sectors of the process industry that can be internationally competitive.” more
Feedback
We welcome your feedback. Please feel free to send us your comments on any aspect of this site. Click here to make your comments.
Barbara Ortner looks at the off-beat and unusual side of chemical industry life.
ICIS Chemicals Confidential