MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) totalled 731,700 tonnes in January-September 2018, up by 2.5% year on year. At the same time, only two out of four Russian producers increased their output, according to MRC's ScanPlast report.
September total HDPE production in Russia decreased to 79,200 tonnes, whereas this figure was 81,500 tonnes a month earlier. Shutdown for a scheduled maintenance at Russia's largest producer - Kazanorgsintez - was the main reason. Overall HDPE production reached 731,700 tonnes in the first nine months of 2018, compared to 713,600 tonnes a year earlier. Gazprom neftekhim Salavat and Stavrolen increased their output, whereas Nizhnekamskneftekhim reduced its production by almost twice in favour of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE).
The structure of polyethylene (PE) production by plants looked the following way over the stated period.
Kazanorgsintez's total HDPE output fell to 38,200 tonnes in September from 46,400 tonnes a month earlier, the Kazan plant shut down its production capacities for a turnaround on 25 September. The Kazan plant's overall HDPE production reached 395,600 tonnes in January-September 2018, which corresponded to the last year's figure.
Stavrolen produced about 25,000 tonnes last month versus 24,500 tonnes in August. The plant's overall HDPE output reached 222,400 tonnes in the first nine months of 2018, up by 8% year on year.
Gazprom neftekhim Salavat reduced its capacity utilisation in September, the plant produced 9,500 tonnes last month, compared to 10,500 tonnes a month earlier. The Bashkir plant's overall HDPE production reached 89,400 tonnes in the first nine months of 2018, up by 39% year on year. Such a high amount of the increase in the output was caused by the absence of a long scheduled maintenance this year.
Nizhnekamskneftekhim produced HDPE only in April-May and in late September during the stated period. Thus, the Nizhnekamsk producer manufactured only 24,200 tonnes over the incomplete three months of operations versus 46,300 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC