Russia’s production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) totalled 795,900 tonnes in the January-October period, up by 4.6% year on year, according to MRC’s ScanPlast report.
October’s figures for HDPE production however showed a monthly decrease, down to 64,200 tonnes from 79,200 tonnes in September, due to scheduled maintenances at Russia’s two largest producers, Kazanorgsintez and Stavrolen.
Gazprom neftekhim Salavat and Stavrolen increased their output, whereas Nizhnekamskneftekhim reduced its production by more than a third in favour of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE).
Kazakhstan’s Kazanorgsintez total HDPE output fell to 16,800 tonnes in October, from 38,200 tonnes a month earlier, as it had shut down its capacities for a one-month scheduled turnaround on 25 September.
The Kazan plant’s overall HDPE output totalled 412,400 tonnes in January-October 2018, down by 0.3% year on year.
Russia’s Stavrolen produced 18,600 tonnes last month, versus 25,000 tonnes in September, as it also took its capacities offline for a maintenance in the first half of October.
The plant’s overall HDPE output reached 241,100 tonnes in the first 10 months of 2018, up by 17% year on year.
Staying in Russia, producer Gazprom neftekhim Salavat raised its capacity utilisation in October, with its plant producing 11,500 tonnes of HDPE last month, compared to 9,500 tonnes a month earlier.
The Bashkir plant’s total HDPE output reached 100,900 tonnes in the first ten month of 2018, up by 33% year on year.
Nizhnekamskneftekhim produced HDPE only in April-May, and in late September and October. Thus, its total output stood at 41,600 tonnes in the 10-month period, versus 64,700 tonnes a year earlier. - ICIS -