PE production in Russia grows 3% January-June

MOSCOW (MRC)–Production of polyethylene (PE) in Russia increased to about 830,600 tonne in first six months of this year, up 3% year on year, compared to the same period of 2015, according to MRC ScanPlast.

June PE production in Russia decreased to 136,500 tonnes, while in May it was about 137,600 tonnes. The decrease in production mainly resulted from the scheduled maintenance works at low density polyethylene (LDPE) production at Ufaorgsintez and Tomskneftekhim. Production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) grew significantly, but LDPE and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) decreased.

June production of HDPE in Russia decreased to 83,900 tonnes, compared with 87,300 tonnes in May. The main reason for the decrease was Nizhnekamskneftekhim switching to LLDPE production in the middle of the month. Total HDPE production in the country increased to about 501,900 tonnes in January-June 2016, up 14% year on year.

June output of LDPE decreased to 46,200 tonnes compared to 50,300 tonnes a month earlier on the back of turnarounds in Ufa and Tomsk.

Total LDPE production in Russia was 299,600 tonnes in January-June 2016 against 334,400 tonnes year on year. 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.

Russia’s LLDPE production reached 29,100 tonnes in January-June of this year, while a year earlier it was about 31,500 tonnes.

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