Russia HDPE production grew 13% in Jan-Aug year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Russia’s production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) rose in January-August by 13% year on year, totalling over 675,500 tonnes, with Stavrolen and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat increasing their output, according to MRC’s ScanPlast report.

August total HDPE production in Russia grew to 99,000 tonnes from 74,600 tonnes a month earlier.


Nizhnekamskneftekhim, which switched to HDPE production from linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) earlier this month, accounted for a significant increase in the output. Overall HDPE production exceeded 675,500 tonnes in January-August 2016, compared to 599,400 tonnes a year earlier.

Stavrolen and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat increased their capacity utilisation, whereas Kazanorgsintez, on the contrary, showed a negative result.

The structure of polyethylene (PE) production by plants looked the following way over the stated period:

Kazanorgsintez raised its HDPE output to 49,700 tonnes last month from 41,800 tonnes in July (the plant had limited supply of ethylene). Overall, the Kazan plant produced about 329,000 tonnes of HDPE in the first eight months of 2016, down by 4% year on year.

August HDPE output at Stavrolen grew to 24,600 tonnes from 24,400 tonnes a month earlier. Stavrolen produced over 180,200 tonnes of HDPE over the stated period, whereas a year earlier the figure was 103,600 tonnes (the plant was idle from late February 2014 to April 2015 because of an accident at the ethylene unit).

Nizhnekamskneftekhim switched to HDPE production only in early August, whereas in early June, it switched to LLDPE production. As a consequence, the plant’s HDPE output was 14,800 tonnes in August compared to 300 tonnes a month earlier. The Nizhnekamsk plant produced a little over 92,500 tonnes of HDPE in January-August 2016, which corresponds to the index of 2015.

Gazprom neftekhim Salavat increased its capacity utilisation last month, HDPE production rose to 9,800 tonnes from 8,100 tonnes in July (the plant shut down its production for a one-week turnaround). The Salavat plant produced 73,800 tonnes in the first eight months of 2016, whereas a year earlier, this figure was 59,600 tonnes.

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