The global metallocene medium-density polyethylene (mMDPE) market status is good, but the development of my country’s industry is restricted

Metallocene medium density polyethylene, referred to as mMDPE, is made by copolymerizing metallocene coordination compounds as catalysts, ethylene as the main material, and adding other α-olefin monomers (such as 1-butene, 1-hexene, etc.). One of mPE (metallocene polyethylene) products.

According to the “China Metallocene Medium Density Polyethylene (mMDPE) Industry Market In-depth Research and Development Prospects Forecast Report 2023-2028” released by the Industrial Research Center It shows that mMDPE is mainly used to manufacture pipes, hollow products, etc. through injection molding, rotational molding and other processes, and can also be used to manufacture film products. In the global mPE market, due to its wider application range and greater demand, mLLDPE (metallocene linear low-density polyethylene) accounts for the largest market share, reaching about 60%. mMDPE and mHDPE (metallocene high-density polyethylene) The share ratios are close, both around 20%. mMDPE is developing well in the global market.

Metallocene catalyst is the core material required for mPE production. Its quality directly affects the performance of mPE products. However, it is difficult to develop and produce metallocene catalysts. At this stage, companies in my country, represented by New Plastic Chemicals, have mass production capabilities for metallocene catalysts, but the supply is insufficient. Some mPE companies still rely on imports for demand, and imported products are expensive. Due to insufficient supply of key raw materials, my country’s mPE self-sufficiency rate is only about 20%.

my country’s traditional manufacturing industry continues to transform and upgrade, high-tech industries continue to develop and grow, and the market demand for high-performance materials continues to grow. Against this background, my country’s mPE development efforts have continued to increase, and many companies under PetroChina and Sinopec have developed multiple brands of mPE products. However, my country’s mPE industry is dominated by mLLDPE production. These two factors have restricted the development of my country’s mMDPE industry.

MDPE (medium density polyethylene) was developed in the United States in the 1970s. The product has excellent environmental stress cracking resistance, long-term strength retention, good flexibility and creep resistance, and its overall performance is between HDPE ( Between high-density polyethylene) and LDPE (low-density polyethylene), it has obvious advantages in the manufacturing fields of water pipes, gas pipes, wire and cable protective sleeves, etc., and has a large market development space.

Industry analysts said that compared with ordinary MDPE, mMDPE has better performance, longer service life, and higher market price , which will help production companies improve their profitability. If companies can independently develop and produce metallocene catalysts, or purchase cost-effective metallocene catalysts, they will have greater profit potential. In order to adapt to the needs of the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry, improve its core competitiveness, and enhance profitability, as my country’s metallocene catalyst supply capacity increases in the future, the proportion of my country’s mMDPE production capacity in the total MDPE production capacity is expected to increase.

France’s Total is one of the most representative mMDPE manufacturers in the world. Its subsidiary company ATOFINA has independent research and development and production capabilities for metallocene catalysts. Total’s mass production of mMDPE has raw material advantages and cost advantages. .