MOSCOW (MRC) -- Last year's production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) in Russia decreased by 19%. Russian producers increased their capacity utilisation, but it did not help to offset a forced outage at Stavrolen, according to MRC ScanPlast.
December HDPE production in Russia fell to 72,200 tonnes versus 73,400 tonnes in November because of the reduced capacity utilisation at Kazanorgsintez. The overall HDPE production totalled 817,000 tonnes in 2014 versus 1.011 million tonnes a year earlier. The main reason for the fall was the long shutdown at Stavrolen (due to an accident), whereas other Russian producers increased their output.
The HDPE production structure by plants looks the following way over the stated period.
Kazanorgsintez, Russia's largest polyethylene (PE) producer, produced 43,600 tonnes in December compared to 46,900 tonnes in November. The plant's overall HDPE production rose by 5% in 2014 to 489,500 tonnes.
Nizhnekamskneftehim produced a little over 19,000 tonnes of PE last month, whereas in November, this figure was 18,600 tonnes. The plant's overall HDPE output exceeded 186,800 tonnes over the stated period, up by 15% year on year.
"Gazprom neftekhim Salavat" increased its HDPE production to 9,500 tonnes in December, despite a major products expansion, versus 7,800 tonnes a month earlier. Thus, the Bashkir plant raised its last year's HDPE output by 26% to 92,800 tonnes because of an increase in its capacity utilisation.
As reported earlier, Stavrolen was forced to shut down its PE production due to an accident at its ethylene unit on 26 February. The plant's HDPE production was about 48,000 tonnes in less than two months of 2014. According to the recent statements made by the company's officials, the resumption of HDPE production is expected in March - April 2015. The plant's annual production capacity is 300,000 tonnes.
MRC