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CN Blog
Polyethylene Market Brief-March 18, 2026
- I. Key Focus
- Cost Side:
Tensions in the Middle East remain elevated, with ongoing supply risks supporting international oil prices.
- NYMEX crude oil futures (April contract) rose by $2.71 to $96.21/barrel (+2.90%).
- ICE Brent crude futures (May contract) increased by $3.21 to $103.42/barrel (+3.20%).
- Current Shutdown Units:
At present, 21 polyethylene units are under shutdown. No new maintenance units have been added. - Market Review (Yesterday):
Domestic PE prices showed mixed movements, with changes ranging from +1 to -108 RMB/ton. Crude oil declined, and sellers generally offered discounts to stimulate sales, resulting in sluggish trading activity.
Core Logic: Supply-demand game; price consolidation within a range.
II. Price Table
| Grade | Category | Mar 16 | Mar 17 | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDPE | Low-pressure film | 8836 | 8837 | +1 | +0.01% |
| HDPE | Low-pressure injection (low MI) | 8505 | 8484 | -21 | -0.25% |
| HDPE | Low-pressure raffia | 8676 | 8695 | +19 | +0.22% |
| HDPE | Low-pressure small/medium hollow | 8654 | 8676 | +22 | +0.25% |
| LDPE | High-pressure film | 10681 | 10654 | -27 | -0.25% |
| LLDPE | Linear MI=2 film | 8669 | 8561 | -108 | -1.25% |
Source: Longzhong Information
III. Market Outlook
In the short term, geopolitical tensions persist, providing cost support. However, downstream resistance to high prices remains strong, and purchasing willingness has weakened. Amid the supply-demand game, prices are expected to fluctuate within a range. (For reference only)
IV. Data Calendar
| Data | Release Time | Previous | Expected Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total PE producer inventory (10,000 tons) | Wednesday 17:00 PM | 57.54 | ↗ |
| PE social warehouse inventory | Tuesday 17:00 PM | -1.56% | ↘ |
| Weekly PE production (10,000 tons) | Thursday 17:00 PM | 68.32 | ↘ |
| Maintenance impact volume (10,000 tons) | Thursday 17:00 PM | 9.10 | ↗ |
| Weekly PE operating rate | Thursday 17:00 PM | 82.39% | ↘ |
| Downstream operating rate | Thursday 17:00 PM | 5.21% | ↗ |
| Market sentiment survey | Thursday 12:00 AM | -16.34% | ↗ |
Source: Longzhong information
Notes:
↓↑ indicates significant fluctuations (greater than 3%).
↗↘ indicates narrow fluctuations (within 0–3%).
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