MOSCOW (MRC) -- Production of polyethylene (PE) in Russia decreased in the first three months of 2015 by 10% year on year and totalled about 387,000 tonnes. The output of all PE grades was reduced, according to MRC ScanPlast report.
March PE production in Russia rose to 131,000 tonnes from 122,500 tonnes due to the increased production of low density polyethylene (LDPE). The overall PE production was about 387,000 tonnes over the first three months of the year versus 430,800 tonnes a year earlier. Production of all PE grades dropped, however, high density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for the greatest decrease in the output because of the prolonged forced outage at Stavrolen.
The PE production structure by grades looks the following way over the stated period.
March HDPE production was about 70,300 tonnes versus 70,000 tonnes a month earlier. The overall production of this PE grade in Russia dropped by 13% from January to March 2015 to 213,300 tonnes because of the outage at Stavrolen (the plant shut down its operation on 28 February 2014, HDPE production was resumed on 7 April 2015).
Russian manufacturers produced about 60,700 tonnes of LDPE last month versus 52,500 tonnes a month earlier because of increased capacity utilisation at Tomskneftekhim, Kazanorgsintez and Ufaorgsintez. The overall LDPE production decreased to 173,600 tonnes in the first quarter of 2015 versus 175,500 tonnes over the same period a year earlier.
Russian manufacturers did not produce linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) over the stated period. According to unofficial information, Nizhnekamskneftekhim (currently, the only plant that can produce LLDPE) plans to switch to production of this PE grade in May.
MRC