Russia Q1 HDPE production up by 0.4% year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Russia’s first-quarter production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) totalled 236,300 tonnes, up by 0.4% year on year, according to MRC’s ScanPlast report.

Only two producers out of four increased their output, Gazprom neftekhim Salavat and Kazanorgsintez.

HDPE output grew to 79,300 tonnes in March from 71,500 tonnes a month earlier.

Stavrolen increased its capacity utilisation after short maintenance in February.

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

Kazanorgsintez’s March total HDPE output remained almost at the level of February and was 42,800 tonnes. The Kazan plant’s overall HDPE production reached 137,300 tonnes in January-March, up by 2.2% year on year.

Stavrolen produced 27,900 tonnes last month versus 18,200 tonnes in February, with a one-week turnaround in early February. Its overall output reached 72,900 tonnes over the stated period, down by 4% year on year.

Gazprom neftekhim Salavat reduced capacity utilisation in March. The plant produced 8,600 tonnes last month compared to 9,300 tonnes a month earlier. The Baskhir plant’s overall HDPE output exceeded 28,700 tonnes in the first three months of 2019, up 3% year on year.

Nizhnekamskneftekhim produced exclusively linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) over the stated period.

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