After a long period of falling prices, price  of HDPE in Russia began to rise at the end of June. The ICIS-MRC price report showed that price growth gained momentum in late July due to a severe reduction in supply. Prices began to recover at the end of June as producers opted to export raw materials to meet higher prices in Asia, Turkey and Europe, rather than selling them to domestic buyers amid a weak ruble.

The situation has been exacerbated by tighter supply as a result of a reduction in imported materials as seasonal demand has increased.

Some sellers have opted to suspend sales of polyethylene over the past two weeks as the global price of high-density polyethylene rose and the ruble depreciated against the dollar in June, further limiting the availability of materials.

Nevertheless, sales from external suppliers remain limited in some areas, particularly affecting the clarinet-level PE100.

Export sales of extruded polyethylene also rose as demand recovered in June after falling in April-May.

Some sellers have restricted sales since mid-July, and in some cases feedback has suggested that sales have been suspended altogether because of a lack of inventory. Fundamentals are further out of balance due to the unexpected closure of some capacity at Stavrolen over the weekend. The biggest shortfall is still in the CLAR inept level PE100 section.

The injection molded HDPE market remained in balance, with early signs of price increases in August. Thin-film HDPE trades at 73,000 rubles per ton (freight paid to Moscow, including VAT).

Blow-molding HDPE is quoted at 79,500 rubles/ton (freight to Moscow, including VAT).Kazanorgsintez and Stavrolen plan to shut down capacity for regular maintenance in September October.