WHAT IS IT?
Polyethylene (PE) is the world's most widely produced plastic, made by polymerising ethylene (C₂H₄). It comes in several distinct forms with very different properties, making it the most versatile of all polymers. Annual production exceeds 100 million tonnes.
THREE MAIN TYPES
HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)
Density: 0.941–0.965 g/cm³
Rigid, strong, chemical resistant
Uses: Pipe, bottles (milk, detergent, chemicals), crates, HDPE film bags, geomembranes
Key grade: Pipe grade (PE80, PE100) for water and gas distribution
LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene)
Density: 0.910–0.940 g/cm³
Flexible, clear, good sealing properties
Uses: Bread bags, shrink wrap, agricultural film, cable insulation, squeeze bottles
Made by high-pressure polymerisation
LLDPE (Linear Low Density Polyethylene)
Density: 0.915–0.940 g/cm³
Stronger than LDPE at same thickness — stretch film champion
Uses: Stretch film, food packaging film, agricultural film, heavy duty bags
Made by copolymerising ethylene with alpha-olefins (butene, hexene, octene)
KEY USES BY TYPE
HDPE: Pipes (large market in Africa/SEA infrastructure), bottles, containers, film bags
LDPE: Flexible packaging, agricultural mulch film, cable
LLDPE: Stretch pallet wrap, stand-up pouches, agricultural film
TRADE CORRIDORS
Major producers: Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran), USA, China, South Korea
Major buyers: Southeast Asia, Africa, India, Europe
Tetra relevance: Middle East and South Korea → SEA/East Africa. HDPE pipe grade strong demand for infrastructure projects in Tanzania and Kenya.
PRICING BASIS
CFR Southeast Asia and CFR China main Asian benchmarks. Tracks ethylene monomer cost.
SPECIFICATIONS
MFI (Melt Flow Index): Grade-specific
Density: Grade-specific (key differentiator)
Ash content: max 300 ppm
Moisture: max 300 ppm