Tightening availability in Europe exerts more pressure on LD, LLDPE

The European PE market entered February on a firm note for a second month in a row, with most sellers planning to sell February quotas €40-50/ton higher in line with the ethylene contracts. According to players, the upward pressure on LDPE and LLDPE is more visible when compared to HDPE due to tightening availability for these products.

In addition to this, some Middle Eastern suppliers have already started to offer LDPE and LLDPE with larger hikes due to their short supplies. Particularly LLDPE availability in Europe is short as higher prices in Asia continue to attract Middle Eastern producers’ attention, curbing imports into the bloc.

In Italy, a manufacturer reported purchasing West European LDPE and LLDPE, paying €30-50/ton increases from January while he was offered Middle Eastern LDPE at €1330-1360/ton FD Italy, 60 days, with €100/ton increases from a month earlier. The buyer also stated, “We paid increases of up to €100/ton for LDPE and €50/ton for HDPE. Overall supplies are short and demand is improving, justifying such large hikes on certain grades.”

Similarly, a different buyer reported that their South European supplier issues February contract offers with increases of €35/ton for LDPE and €50/ton for LLDPE, citing that LLDPE supply is shorter.

A different manufacturer from the Netherlands heard that a Saudi major is planning to seek larger hikes of €80-100/ton on LLDPE due to the tightness.

In Italy, PE ranges stand at €1270-1360/ton for LDPE, at €1180-1270/ton for LLDPE and at €1210-1300/ton for HDPE film and b/m. In Northwest Europe, PE prices are reported at €1270-1350/ton for LDPE, at €1180-1250/ton for LLDPE, at €1220-1300/ton for HDPE film and b/m and at €1200-1300/ton for HDPE injection, all on local terms.