MOSCOW (MRC) -- Production of polyethylene (PE) in Russia rose over the first seven months of 2015 by 5.7% year on year and totalled 948,700 tonnes. Production of all PE grades increased, according to MRC ScanPlast report.
July PE production Russia grew to 144,600 tonnes from 139,400 tonnes a month earlier because of the increased capacity utilisation at Stavrolen and Kazanorgsintez. The overall output of ethylene polymers reached 948,700 tonnes from January to July 2015 versus 897,100 tonnes a year earlier. Production of all PE grades increased, but linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) accounted for the largest growth in the output.
The PE production structure by grades looks the following way over the stated period.
The last month's production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) in Russia rose to 83,100 tonnes from 65,500 tonnes in June. Stavrolen and Kazanorgsintez increased their capacity utilisation. Thus, Russia's overall HDPE production totalled 521,300 tonnes over the first seven months of 2015 versus 510,300 tonnes a year earlier.
The July output of low density polyethylene (LDPE) dropped to 53,500 tonnes from 55,700 tonnes a month earlier. Lower LDPE production was mainly caused by scheduled shutdowns for maintenance at Ufaorgsintez, Gazprom neftekhim Salavat and Angarsk Polymer Plant. In general, the total LDPE production in Russia rose to 387,400 tonnes over the first seven months of the year versus 370,600 tonnes a year earlier.
Nizhnekamskneftekhim produced about 40,000 tonnes of LLDPE from January to July 2015, whereas a year earlier, this figure was 16,200 tonnes. The Nizhnekamsk plant intends again to switch its production for LLDPE in the fourth quarter of the year.
MRC