Spot prices of polyethylene (PE) in the European market were generally stable last week amid slowed market activity at the end of the month, ICIS sources told the market.

Material prices in the current month rose by EUR30-60 per ton, depending on the brand PE and the seller.

Many market sources are awaiting agreement on the April contract price of ethylene, and most of them do not expect a significant price change compared to the current level of EUR1,050 per tonne, FD NWE (Northwest Europe), which is EUR30 per ton higher than the February level .

Some sellers expect that in April they will again be able to raise the margin, while buyers mostly expect a stable month in terms of pricing.

According to the Price Review of ICIS-MRC, last week the Russian market of PE was marked by a surge in consumer activity. Against the background of the launch of weighting (load of a car of 8-10 tons) restrictions on cargo road transport, some processors have started to actively create additional stocks of polyethylene. Demand grew for high-density polyethylene (LDPE) and low-density polyethylene (HDPE), but not all companies are able to generate additional supplies of raw materials for the period of transportation restrictions due to problems with working capital. Last week in Russia, there was a rise in PE prices, and their decline.