Demand for import prices for low-density polyethylene (HDPE) was weak in the spot market in India amid a recent ban on polyethylene bags and other disposable items in Maharashtra, ICIS reported citing market participants.

The price proposals for the April deliveries of HDPE from the Gulf countries were 1,330-1,360 per ton, CFR India.

The reaction to them was mostly restrained, only a few deals were concluded, sources said.

The ban on the production, transportation, storage and use of plastic bags in the second largest state of Maharashtra, which is the main segment of the users of film HDPE, reduced demand in the western region of the country.

Some manufacturers even shut down production against the background of this ban.

Nevertheless, in other states of India the demand for film HDPE remains stable.

Last week, prices of film HDPE in India were at the level of USD1,340-1,360 per tonne, CFR India, which is USD10 more than the previous week.

According to the Price Review of ICIS-MRC, in Russia there are cheap imported analogues from Uzbekistan on the market, and processors are trying to close their needs for raw materials with this material as much as possible. This is especially true for film manufacturers.