MOSCOW (MRC) -- Production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) in Russia decreased by 20% over the first ten months of 2014. The forced outage at Stavrolen was the main reason for the lower output, as per MRC ScanPlast report.
October HDPE production in Russia totalled 47,900 tonnes versus 44,300 tonnes in September. Such low production figures in September and October were caused by a scheduled shutdowns for maintenance at Kazanorgsintez and Nizhnekamskneftekhim. Overall, Russian producers reduced their polyethylene (PE) output to 671,400 tonnes from January to October 2014 from 836,200 tonnes a year earlier. The increased production of all plants could not offset the forced February outage at Stavrolen.
The HDPE production structure by plants looks the following way over the stated period.
Kazanorgsintez, Russia's largest PE manufacturer, produced about 20,700 tonnes of HDPE. The plant's overall HDPE production rose over the the first ten months of the year by 6% to about 399,000 tonnes.
Nizhnekamskneftekhim significantly increased its capacity utilisation last month, raising the plant's PE output to 19,400 tonnes. The plant's overall production exceeded 149,000 tonnes over the said period, up by 2% year on year.
Gazprom neftekhim Salavat produced 7,800 tonnes of HDPE in October, the plant's overall output of this PE grade increased by 27% from January to October 2014 and totalled 75,500 tonnes.
As reported earlier, Stavrolen was forced to shut down its PE production because of an accident at the plant's ethylene unit on 26 February 2014. According to recent statements of the company's officials, the resumption of HDPE production is expected in March or April 2015. The plant's annual production capacity is 300,000 tonnes.
MRC