The prices of imported black pipe polyethylene (PE100) in China remained stable this week, ICIS reported citing a source in the market.

This week, the prices of imported black polyethylene pipe (PE100) in China were announced in the range of USD1480-1500 per tonne, CFR China.

In China, there were days off from 1 to 8 October against the backdrop of the celebration of the “Golden Week”.

Meanwhile, domestic prices for black pipe polyethylene (PE100) in China are still on an upward trend, reaching CNY13,200 per tonne (USD2300 per tonne) for the week ending October 12, compared to CNY1200 per tonne in end of September.

Some market participants expect that by the end of the year domestic prices for black PE100 will decrease, as demand usually weakens in the winter months, and this will lead to a reduction in the difference with import prices.

According to the Price Report of ICIS-MRC, in Russia there is a shortage of supply of black PE100, but this factor does not put pressure on prices. Here, as in the case of film HDPE, producers of PE pipes simply can not transfer the growth in the cost of raw materials to finished products. In addition, the offer of natural PE100 on the market is more than sufficient.