During August 2025, the mLLDPE markets of India and China exhibited stable price movement owing to supply and demand being level and cautious buying patterns.
Prices for mLLDPE in India were generally steady through the first three weeks of August. There was a fragile balance in the market, with supply buoyant due to steady feedstock ethylene prices and steady imports of mLLDPE from both the Middle East and China. While imports from China faced a few slight delays because of port congestion in Shanghai, Ningbo, and Qingdao, they were minimal and had little bearing on availability overall. The domestic plants were running pretty much in full, as there were a few idle plants coming back into production, which had increased output overall.
On the demand side, weak activity as the agricultural film sector was in its seasonal off-period, and downstream manufacturing sectors had limited buying/ordering appetite for mLLDPE. Buyers were cautious, purchasing in many cases only on an as-needed basis, especially with prices trending uncertain. The first half of August witnessed weak market sentiment overall, although some improvement was observed as the month progressed, supported by policy backing. Without any recovery in demand, price movement was flat. To boost sales during the period, Indian mLLDPE producers explored promotions like quantity-lifting offers.
Likewise, China's mLLDPE market remained stable for most of August. Supply was balanced, driven by steady feedstock ethylene oxide prices, which are tied to crude oil movements and increasing supply coming to market from the return of historical maintenance units. Export activity to regional Asian markets, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and India, continued, albeit at stable but modest levels, thereby providing limited relief to local stocks. The manufacturing sector remained stable with no significant logistics constraints, thereby ensuring a steady domestic supply of mLLDPE.
China's mLLDPE demand remained weak during this period as key end-use sectors like agriculture and plastic weaving remained in off-season. This put a degree of restraint on procurement, and buyers limited sourcing requirements to immediate needs, meaning no forward stocking, as the day-to-day price expectations were uncertain. Liquidity in the spot market was thin, meaning small-volume transactions provided the majority of upticks. There was some slight improvement in overall demand by mid-August, and greater supply continued to enter the market. But prices remained mostly stable in reflection of cautious market sentiment.
Both India and China are expected to maintain stable mLLDPE prices in the short term due to a demand-supply balance and seasonal factors. Several holidays in August, especially in India, impacted demand lower, with buyers buying only as needed. Producers are looking at promotional strategies, given the demand is slow; however, they may not see a high price increase unless significant demand returns.
As per ChemAnalyst, the mLLDPE market in India and China is expected to remain stable with little to no upside or downside pricing in a subdued market and seasonal off-business.
