MOSCOW (MRC) - Production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) in Russia decreased to about 573,100 tonne in the first seven months of 2017, down 0.7% year on year. Gazprom neftekhim Salavat and Nizhnekamskneftekhim showed a decrease in production, according to MRC ScanPlast report.
July HDPE production in Russia decreased to 72,700 tonnes, while in June it was 95,100 tonnes. Such a significant decrease in the output was mainly caused by the scheduled shutdown for maintenance at Gazprom neftekhim Salavat and by Nizhnekamskneftekhim's switch for LLDPE production. Overall HDPE production reached 573,100 tonnes in the first seven months of the year, compared to 577,200 tonnes a year earlier. Kazanorgsintez and Stavrolen's higher output did not allow to offset the reduction in production at the other two plants.
Structure of HDPE production over the reported period looked as follows.
Russia's July HDPE production at Kazanorgsintez increased to 46,800 tonnes from 46,700 tonnes a month earlier. The producer's total HDPE production was 316,300 tonnes in the first seven months of the year, up 13% year on year.
July HDPE production at Stavrolen reached about 25,900 tonnes against 26,000 tonnes in June. Stavrolen plans to shut its capacity for two months of maintenance works for the modernisation of part of the facilities from 1 September. The plant's HDPE output reached 168,200 tonnes in the first seven months of 2017, up by 8% year on year.
Gazprom neftekhim Salavat shut its capacity for long-term preventive maintenance from 1 July; June production of HDPE at the Salavat enterprise amounted to about 10,000 tonnes. Thus, overall HDPE production at Gazprom neftekhim Salavat reached 51,500 tonnes in the first seven months of 2017, down by 20% year on year. Such a noticeable decrease in the volume of output was a result of long preventive maintenance, whereas last year the company worked without long-term turnaround.
Nizhnekamskneftekhim in late June, switched to the production of linear polyethylene and plans to resume the production of HDPE only in early September. HDPE production at the Tatar plant was 12,500 tonnes over an incomplete month of work. Overall HDPE production at the plant in January-July was 37,100 tonnes compared with 77,700 tonnes year on year. Such a significant reduction in output was a result of the growth in the share of linear polyethylene in total production.
MRC