Updated to mid-August 2009
Asian market review by Chow Bee Lin, ICIS pricing
Asian low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE) film/HDPE blow grades prices rose by 5.4-12.6% on average from around $1,050-1,210/tonne CFR (cost and freight) China/SE Asia (southeast Asia) in mid-May to around $1,160-1,320/tonne CFR China/SE Asia in mid-August.
Prices started rising in early June on the back of strong crude and upstream ethylene values, and rose consistently throughout the month. Persistently strong crude values pushed prices higher through July and the first half of August, although the rises slowed.
European market review by Linda Naylor, ICIS pricing
LLDPE prices have risen in line with LDPE. Production was cut back and demand improved, leading to higher prices. Year-to-date volumes in 2009 were still well down on 2008, however, prices rose by €130/tonne in July and August combined and were set to rise again in September as ethylene costs were expected to increase.
The market remained tight enough for sellers to expect no let-up by September and were confident of higher prices. New plants due on stream in the Middle East had not yet begun to export significant quantities to affect either the Asian or European LLDPE markets, but new plants were expected to have a depressing effect on prices later in the year.
US market review by David Barry, ICIS pricing
US polyethylene (PE) producers enjoyed robust margins during the May-August period as export business to Asia thrived and US inventories remained low. Price increases of 5-6 cents/lb were implemented in May and June as exporters shipped record volumes.
Producers announced additional hikes of 8 cents/lb for July, but the increase proposals were quickly split into 4 cents/lb increments for July and August. The July increase initiative failed to gain traction because export activity was beginning to taper off and feedstock costs dropped. Many domestic customers also pre-bought in June, resulting in very slow demand during the first few weeks of July.
Market participants were watching to see how quickly the opening of new PE plants in the Middle East would drive down US exports. Factors cited in this year’s US PE export boom included surprisingly strong demand in Asia’s emerging economies, the cost advantage of ethylene produced by US Gulf light-feed crackers versus naphtha crackers in Asia and Europe, and a series of project delays in the Middle East.
Latin America market review by George Martin, ICIS pricing
During the May-August period, PE prices in Latin America exhibited a slow but steady recovery, following gains in crude oil and feedstock ethylene prices.
The recovery pace was faster in Brazil than in any other Latin country, but it must be remembered that Brazilian prices include a tax called PIS/Cofins that adds about 9.5% on average to all prices.
Colombia had removed import tariffs for LDPE starting 1 January and reduced LLDPE and HDPE tariffs to 5%. With many currency revaluations versus the US dollar, PE prices in Colombia moved up steadily.
Chile’s prices were moderated by competition from Asia and the US Gulf that kept prices from regional producers from going up too quickly.
Although PE prices showed some gains in Mexico, the rebound was modest because Mexico has tariff-free imports from the US to keep domestic price aspirations in check.
Venezuelan prices have been steady at high levels throughout 2009 due to a fixed exchange with the US dollar and long inventories of high-priced material in the hands of the local producer. Venezuelan transformers continue to pay the highest prices in the continent.
The above-described scenarios described the behaviour of LDPE in the region, but apply also to LLDPE and HDPE.
Webinar - Understanding Polyethylene Margins
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Polyethylene linear low density
Uses and Outlook
Global demand for linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) has been strong and growing ahead of GDP in most industrial regions of the world. Estimates put world growth rates at around 6-7%/year with North America and Europe somewhat lower, while Asia is higher. By 2004, world production of LLDPE had surpassed 16m tonnes, according to SRI Consulting.
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Polyethylene linear low density
Process Technologies
Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) is produced by the addition of alpha-olefins - butene, hexene or octene - during the polymerisation of ethylene to give a resin with a similar density to LDPE but the linearity of HDPE. Solution, slurry or gas phase processes are used to make LLDPE but the licensing of low-cost gas phase technology by Union Carbide (now Univation) and later BP Chemicals (Ineos) has contributed to the popularity of this resin. Many processes can swing between LLDPE and HDPE production although many plants tend to be dedicated to one of the two resins.
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