my country’s metallocene linear low-density polyethylene (mLLDPE) demand mainly relies on imports. Insufficient supply of metallocene catalysts limits industry development

Metallocene linear low-density polyethylene, referred to as mLLDPE, is produced through a polymerization reaction using metallocene coordination compounds as catalysts, ethylene as the main raw material, adding other α-olefins. mLLDPE is one of the important product types of metallocene polyethylene (mPE).

In the preparation process of LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene), catalysts are indispensable. Common catalysts mainly include single-component chromium-based catalysts, two-component titanium-based catalysts, and metallocene catalysts. Among them, two-component titanium-based catalysts are the mainstream LLDPE catalysts at this stage, but metallocene catalysts can produce mLLDPE with better comprehensive performance and greater market potential.

mLLDPE has the advantages of high strength, high toughness, impact resistance, tear resistance, adhesion resistance, corrosion resistance, good gas barrier properties, low heat sealing temperature, and easy processing and molding. mLLDPE can be processed and formed by blow molding, extrusion, injection molding and other processes. It is mainly used to make films. It can produce thinner film products. It can also be processed into sheets, pipes and other products. It is widely used in food packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, Industrial packaging, agricultural film, wires and cables, building materials and other fields. In my country, the demand for mLLDPE in the film field accounts for the highest proportion, reaching 85%.

mLLDPE production has high technical barriers, especially the difficulty in developing metallocene catalysts, which are key materials that affect the performance of mLLDPE. Globally, mLLDPE manufacturers mainly include Exxon Mobil of the United States, Chevron Phillips of the United States, Dow Chemical of the United States, Ineos of Switzerland, Borealis of Austria, Mitsui Chemicals of Japan, Daelim of South Korea, etc. Among them, most companies do not have the ability to independently develop metallocene catalysts and rely on technology transfer for production, while some companies directly use metallocene catalysts.

According to the “2023-2028 China Metallocene Linear Low Density Polyethylene (mLLDPE) Industry Market In-depth Research and Development Prospects Forecast Report” released by the Industrial Research CenterIt shows that driven by downstream demand, my country’s demand for mLLDPE continues to grow. From 2017 to 2022, my country’s mLLDPE demand will have a compound annual growth rate of around 12%, and the demand in 2022 will be approximately 1.15 million tons. my country’s mLLDPE self-sufficiency capacity is weak, with a self-sufficiency rate of only about 20%, and 80% of demand relies on imports.

Industry analysts said that my country currently has mPE mass production capabilities, mainly producing mLLDPE. my country’s mLLDPE production companies mainly include Daqing Petrochemical, Qilu Petrochemical, Dushanzi Petrochemical, Maoming Petrochemical, Yangzi Petrochemical, Shenyang Wax Chemical, Zhongke Refining and Chemical, etc., with a total production capacity of more than 1.7 million tons. The development of my country’s mLLDPE industry has entered the fast lane, and multiple brands of mLLDPE products have been developed.

my country has independent research and development capabilities for metallocene catalysts, and the representative enterprise is New Plastic Chemicals. However, the output of domestic metallocene catalysts is low and can only be used by some mLLDPE companies, while some mLLDPE companies use imported metallocene catalysts. The insufficient supply of domestic metallocene catalysts and the high price of imported metallocene catalysts have restricted the development of my country’s mLLDPE industry. The capacity utilization rate of my country’s mLLDPE industry is extremely low, so the self-sufficiency of mLLDPE is weak.