Russia PE production up 62% in January-April

MOSCOW (MRC)–Russia’s overall polyethylene (PE) production totalled 994,000 tonnes in the first four months of 2020, up by 62% year on year,  according to MRC’s ScanPlast report.

Production of all PE grades rose, but LLDPE accounted for the greatest increase, which was provided by SIBUR’s ZapSibNeftekhim unit.

April total HDPE production grew to 151,300 tonnes from 142,300 tonnes a month earlier. Russian plants’ overall HDPE output reached 571,900 tonnes in January-April 2020, up by 79% year on year.

Last month’s total low density polyethylene (LDPE) production decreased to 58,800 tonnes from 61,000 tonnes in April,  Kazanorgsintez and Tomskneftekhim decreased their output. Thus, overall production of this PE grade totalled 231,900 tonnes over the stated period, up by 6% year on year.

April LLDPE production rose to 49,300 tonnes from 57,200 tonnes a month earlier, ZapSibNeftekhim and Kazanorgsintez decreased its capacity utilisation. Overall LLDPE output rose to 190,100 tonnes in the first four months of 2020 from 75,900 tonnes a year earlier.

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