Low density polyethylene market weak on import surge, Brexit apprehensions

23-Jun-16

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) spot prices remained at their lowest level since early April on muted spot activity amid bearish price expectations amid an abundance of imports and in the run up to the UK's referendum on EU membership, as per sources in Platts.
LDPE spot prices were assessed at the start of the week at €1300/mt FD NWE. EU polyethylene imports in the first four months of the year rose 52% compared with January-April 2015, according to the latest Eurostat data. Imports rose to 1,181,435 mt in the first four months of this year from 777,961 mt over the same 2015 period, data released last week showed. High density PE imports rose to 528,475 mt from 365,554 mt, low density imports increased to 248,620 mt from 180,202 mt, and linear low density polyethylene imports rose to 404,340 mt from 232,204 mt.