Polyethylene demand in the Brazilian domestic market was 8% higher in November from October, said a source at Brazilian petrochemical producer Braskem.
"Historically, October is always better than November, but this year, the opposite happened because in September, customers bought large quantities since they were worried about the US dollar strength against the Brazilian real, making October a relatively bad month," said the company source.
Braskem's December polyethylene offers to the Brazilian domestic market were at the same levels as November at Reals4,200/mt FOT (prices with pis/coffins) for HDPE blow molding, Reals2,250/mt FOT for HDPE film and injection, Reals4,460/mt FOT for LDPE film, and Reals4,200/mt FOT for LLDPE butene.
"Our polyethylene offers for the domestic market dropped Reals100/mt last month to be more competitive with the international offers, and now we are starting December without any movement in offer prices," added the source.
If the US dollar remains strong, the company would perhaps think about an offer price increase for December H2, the source concluded.