MOSCOW (MRC) -- The output of high density polyethylene (HDPE) in Russia dropped over the first four months of 2015 by 6% year on year and totalled just over 289,000 tonnes. Lower production was mainly caused by a prolonged shutdown at Stavrolen, according to MRC ScanPlast report.
April HDPE production in Russia rose to 75,700 tonnes from 70,300 tonnes a month earlier because of the resumption of production at Stavrolen. The overall production of this polyethylene (PE) grade decreased to 289,000 tonnes from January to April 2015 from 306,000 tonnes a year earlier. Only Nizhnekamskneftekhim showed a positive growth in production.
The structure of HDPE production by plants looks the following way over the stated period.
Kazanorgsintez, Russia's largest PE producer, was forced to operate at a reduced capacity utilization in the second half of March because of the failure at one of the units. As a consequence, April HDPE production totalled 36,800 tonnes (44,100 tonnes in March). The plant's overall HDPE production totalled about 171,000 tonnes over the first four months of 2015, down by 3% year on year.
Nizhnekamskneftekhim cut its HDPE production to 16,000 tonnes last month from 18,700 tonnes in March because of the outage for maintenance. And in May, the plant switched to production of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). The overall HDPE production was 70,600 tonnes over the stated period versus 47,500 tonnes a year earlier.
Gazprom neftekhim Salavat increased its capacity utilisation in April, the final HDPE production rose to 8,200 tonnes from 7,600 tonnes a month earlier. The plant's overall HDPE production totalled 32,700 tonnes from January to April 2015, down by 5% year on year.
Stavrolen resumed its HDPE production after a long outage from 7 April. The plant resumed gradually its normal operation during the month. The overall PE production totalled 14,800 tonnes.
MRC