PODCAST: US ethylene derivatives PE, PVC, MEG continue to see strong demand amid production constraints

HOUSTON (ICIS)–US polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and monoethylene glycol (MEG) are seeing continuing production constraints from Winter Storm Uri amid strong demand.

Supply remains tight across all PE products, although there is significant variance across grades. Low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE) blow moulding, some grades of HDPE injection and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) hexene (C6) grades remained tight throughout the month.

May and June are expected to see continued operations improvements for PVC , but market participants do not expect the US production centres to be fully operating and caught up on back-orders until July or August.

Higher US prices for MEG and upcoming Chinese capacity have made exports less attractive, amid strong domestic demand.

US MEG production has increased from winter storm-related lows, although reduced run rates and planned maintenance have helped curb supply.

Market experts Zachary Moore, Bill Bowen and Antoinette Smith discuss this and more in the following podcast interview by Anna Matherne and Alex Snodgrass.