Russia’s PE output up 4.2% in January-May

MOSCOW (MRC)–Production of polyethylene (PE) in Russia increased to 694,300 tonne in the first five months of this year, up 4.2% compared to the same period of 2015, with the greatest increase in supply occurred for high density polyethylene (HDPE), according to MRC ScanPlast.

May PE production in Russia exceeded 137,600 tonnes, while in April it was about 128,000 tonnes.

The increase in production mainly resulted from the restart of low density polyethylene (LDPE) production at Kazanorgsintez after scheduled maintenance works.

Total PE production in Russia reached 694,300 tonnes in January-May 2016 against 666,000 tonnes in the corresponding period of 2015.

Russia’s production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) increased significantly over the reported period, while low density polyethylene (LDPE) output declined.

Structure of PE production over the reported period looked as follows:

Russian HDPE producers practically kept the April level of capacity utilisation in May, having produced 87,300 tonnes. Total HDPE production in the country increased to about 418,000 tonnes in January-May 2016, up 12% year on year.

May output of LDPE decreased to 50,300 tonnes in May, compared with 40,800 tonnes in April on the back of the restart of Kazanorgsintez after scheduled maintenances. Total LDPE production in Russia was 253,600 tonnes in January-May 2016 against 280,000 in the same period of 2015.

One of the main reasons for the reduction in output was the forced shutdown of Angarsk ZP since mid-February because of equipment failure at ethylene production.

Production of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) reached 22,600 tonnes in January – May of this year compared with 13,600 tonnes year on year.

MRC, a partner of ICIS, produces polymers news and pricing reports from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.