This week, Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) prices witnessed a decline in parts of South Asia, while remaining steady across other Asian regions, reflecting a largely balanced market environment.
An industry source in Asia, speaking on condition of anonymity, told a correspondent that crude oil is expected to stay range-bound to slightly positive, underpinned by ongoing Middle East tensions and the likelihood of tougher U.S. sanctions on Russian oil. A smaller OPEC+ output hike is also contributing to steady energy prices. However, increasing U.S. inventories and softer physical demand are likely to restrain significant upward movement. Market participants are closely monitoring U.S. stockpile data and the Federal Reserve’s signals for indications of the next price direction.
According to the source, LDPE prices fell modestly in South Asia, but overall sentiment across Asia remained stable. Import offers from overseas suppliers showed little change, with sellers keeping quotations aligned with prevailing conditions. Buyers across the region also maintained a cautious approach, with converters and traders opting for steady procurement strategies amid balanced stock levels and moderate downstream demand. This cautious yet consistent buying activity, combined with stable offers, helped sustain a firm market mood despite localized price drops.
In Far East Asia, LDPE film grade prices held firm at USD 1030-1060/mt CFR, unchanged from the previous week. Southeast Asia followed a similar trend, with film grade prices steady at USD 1070-1120/mt CFR. In South Asia, however, India and Pakistan registered slight declines. LDPE prices in India dipped to USD 1100-1130/mt CFR, down by USD 10/mt week on week, while in Pakistan, prices fell to USD 1080-1100/mt CFR, also lower by USD 10/mt. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh saw no change, with prices stable at USD 1150-1180/mt CFR.
Feedstock ethylene values provided further support to the overall stability, with CFR Northeast Asia prices assessed at USD 835-845/mt, unchanged from last week, while CFR Southeast Asia prices edged slightly higher by USD 5/mt to reach the same range.
On the plant operations front, Sinopec Maoming Petrochemical is expected to take its No.2 LDPE plant offline for a maintenance turnaround beginning October 31, 2025, with operations likely to resume by December 18, 2025. Located in Guangdong, China, the plant has a production capacity of 280,000 mt per year. In a separate development, PetroChina Daqing Petrochemical is planning to shut its No.2 LDPE unit around September 16, 2025, for scheduled maintenance, with operations slated to restart by September 25, 2025. This facility, located in Daqing, China, has a production capacity of 200,000 mt per year.
While South Asia experienced mild downward adjustments in LDPE pricing, the overall Asian market maintained a tone of stability, with steady trade flows and balanced demand-supply dynamics anchoring sentiment.
