Belarus Jan-July PE production down 51% year on year

MOSCOW (MRC)–Belarus’ overall production of low density polyethylene (LDPE) totalled 33,700 tonnes in the first seven months of 2017, down by 51% year on year, according to MRC’s DataScope report.

According to the National Statistics Committee of Belarus, Polymir, the local LDPE manufacturer, produced slightly over 5,200 tonnes of polyethylene (PE) in July compared to 2,700 tonnes a month earlier.

The low June figure was a result of a scheduled shutdown for maintenance. Thus, Polymir’s overall LDPE output was 33,700 tonnes in January-July versus 68,100 tonnes a year earlier.

The fire at one of the ethylene units in late June 2016, which led to a two-fold reduction in the olefin production, was the main reason for such a major fall in the output.

It damaged technological equipment at the ethylene unit, and some of the capacities have been idle since then. The plant’s representatives said the ethylene unit would not be fully reconstructed this year.

Polymir (part of Naftan) is Belarus’ largest petrochemical company, producing a wide range of chemical products, such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), acrylic fibers, products of organic synthesis and hydrocarbon fractions.

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