HDPE production in Russia grows 11% in 2016

MOSCOW (MRC)–Production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) in Russia increased by 11% in 2016 year on year and slightly exceeded 1m tonnes, with producers Stavrolen and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat increasing their output significantly, according to MRC’s ScanPlast report.

December HDPE production in Russia grew to 94,700 tonnes, whereas this figure was about 76,600 tonnes a month earlier. Russia’s overall HDPE production exceeded 1 mln tonnes in January-December 2016, compared to 904,000 tonnes a year earlier. Stavrolen and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat raised their capacity utilisation significantly, whereas Nizhnekamskneftekhim reduced its HDPE output in favour of LLDPE.

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

Kazanorgsintez increased HDPE production in December to 46,300 tonnes compared with 43,400 tonnes in November. Overall, the Kazan manufacturer produced 486,200 tonnes of HDPE in 2016, up by 4% year on year.

Stavrolen’s December HDPE production decreased to 22,300 tonnes from 24,200 tonnes a month earlier. The plant’s lower HDPE output was caused by a short shutdown last month. Stavrolen produced 271,200 tonnes of HDPE in January-December 2016, whereas this figure was 189,500 tonnes a year earlier. The plant was shut from late February 2014 to April 2015 because of the accident at the producer’s  ethylene unit.

Nizhnekamskneftekhim switched to HDPE production only in late November, whereas the plant manufactured linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) since October. The producer’s HDPE production reached 17,700 tonnes in December. Thus, the Nizhnekamsk plant produced over 135,600 tonnes of HDPE in January-December 2016, down by 12% year on year. Higher LLDPE’s share in the total PE production was the main reason for the lower output.

Gazprom neftekhim Salavat (Gazprom) produced about 8,400 tonnes of HDPE in December, compared with 8,900 tonnes in November. The Salavat manufacturer produced over 108,500 tonnes in 2016, whereas this figure was about 93,900 tonnes a year earlier. The low 2015 output was caused by the plant’s long outage for maintenance in July-August, whereas shutdowns were shorter last year.

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