Russia’s January-April HDPE production down by 2% year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Russia’s January-April production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) fell by 2% year on year, with two producers out of four reduced their output, according to MRC’s ScanPlast report.

April total HDPE production in Russia grew to 82,900 tonnes from 79,300 tonnes a month earlier.

Gazprom neftekhim Salavat raised its capacity utilisation after March’s short outage.

Overall HDPE production reached 319,200 tonnes in the first four months of 2019, compared to 325,700 tonnes in the same period a year earlier.

Gazprom neftekhim Salavat and Kazanogrsintez’s higher output did not compensate for the reduction in output of the two other plants.

The structure of HDPE production by plants looked the following way over the stated period:

Kazanorgsintez’s total HDPE production rose to 47,200 tonnes in April from 46,700 tonnes a month earlier, despite partial switch-over to linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) production.

The Kazan plant’s overall HDPE output reached 179,000 tonnes in January-April, up by 5.7% year on year.

Stavrolen produced 26,600 tonnes last month, compared to 27,900 tonnes in March. The plant’s overall output reached 99,500 tonnes over the stated period, down by 3% year on year.

Gazprom neftekhim Salavat increased its capacity utilisation in April, the plant produced 10,800 tonnes last month, compared to 8,600 tonnes a month earlier.

The Baskhir plant’s overall HDPE output reached 39,500 tonnes in the first four months of 2019, up 1% year on year.

Nizhnekamskneftekhim produced exclusively LLDPE over the stated period.

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