PE production in Russia up by 58% in Jan-Feb year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Russia’s overall polyethylene (PE) production increased by 58% in the first two months of 2020 year on year, with ZapSibNeftekhim accounting for the main increase, according to MRC’s ScanPlast report.

February PE production in Russia rose to 237,800 tonnes from 236,300 tonnes a month earlier. Output of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) increased.

Thus, overall PE production reached 474,100 tonnes in January-February 2020, compared to 300,700 tonnes a year earlier.

Five producers raised their output of PE, but ZapSibNeftekhim accounted for the greatest increase in production.

The PE production structure by grades looked the following way over the stated period:

February total HDPE production grew to 140,500 tonnes from 137,800 tonnes a month earlier.

ZapSibNeftekhim raised its capacity utilisation. Russia’s overall HDPE output reached 278,300 tonnes in January-February, up by 77% year on year.

Last month’s total low density polyethylene (LDPE) production decreased to 53,700 tonnes from 58,500 tonnes in January with Angarsk Polymers Plant and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat reducing output. Thus, overall production of this PE grade totalled 112,200 tonnes over the stated period, up by 2% year on year.

February LLDPE production rose to 43,600 tonnes from 40,100 tonnes a month earlier with ZapSibNeftekhim increasing its capacity utilisation.

Overall LLDPE output increased to 83,600 tonnes in the first two months of 2020 from 34,100 tonnes a year earlier.

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