Players of the European market at the end of last week have not yet started an active discussion of prices for low-pressure polyethylene (PND) pipe brands for May deliveries, but sellers are confident that the demand will be good and the supply of the material in the market either balanced or limited, ICIS reported.

The possibilities of export shipments to Asia and Latin America increase the demand for material that is already in Europe at a high level.

Manufacturers are confident in raising the price of tubular HDPE in May, and some of them believe that the growth will exceed the level of the increase in the contract price of ethylene in May at a rate of EUR20 per ton.

In the broader HDPE market, Europe also expects a price increase this month after a period of calm. Although most quotes have not yet gone up, market sources believe that they have reached their bottom and expect that prices will rise.

According to the Price Review of ICIS-MRC, in the Russian contract market, individual manufacturers announced an increase in prices of HDPE from May 1 to 2,000-6,000 rubles. per ton in comparison with the level of April. The greatest increase was noted for black PE100.