Prices for low-pressure polyethylene pipe (HDPE) have stabilized in Europe, but players expect prices to fall in the coming months, ICIS reports citing market participants.

Prices began to fall after the decline in demand for tubular HDPE in China.

Many manufacturers also switched to the production of tube and film HDPE, which led to an excess of material on the market.

Prices of tubular HDPE began to fall at the beginning of the year. In September, prices remain unchanged, but players expect prices to begin to decline in the near future, as sentiment in Asia continues to deteriorate.

According to the ICIS-MRC Price Review, Russian pipe manufacturers are facing tough times in September. Key Russian suppliers intend to reduce the volumes of pipe HDPE supplies to the domestic market, while the demand for raw materials is quite high. The supply gap is expected to grow in the next month and in the segment of film HDPE. Sellers of the Uzbek PE state a further reduction in supplies in September, and supplies from Kazanorgsintez and Nizhnekamskneftekhim will also be limited.