Global Metallocene LLDPE Market Snapshot

Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most widely used plastics with a global demand of around 120 million tons and has the simplest chemical structure of all the commercial polymers.

Polyethylene is prepared either via free radical polymerisation or via coordination polymerisation using a catalyst. The traditional catalyst technology employed for polyethylene production consisted of titanium-based Ziegler-Natta (ZN) catalysts. Polyethylene manufacturing processes have continued to evolve through technological evolution – expanding the product range, increase operating efficiency and reduce investment costs.

With the development of metallocene catalysts, producers have been able to take advantage of a range of new opportunities:

• Firstly, they were able to generate products with improved performance compared to existing materials. An example would be LLDPE made with butene-1 via a metallocene catalyst compared with a traditional butene-1 linear low density polyethylene (C4-LLDPE). These performance benefits were generated largely due to metallocene based materials having a narrower molecular weight distribution in the polymer and also by achieving a more even distribution of the comonomer.

• Secondly, as a result of metallocene technology, new products were made possible such as the polyolefin elastomers.

The main end use for metallocene LLDPE (mLLDPE) is in film applications; mLLDPE’s processing and performance capabilities make it well-suited for film production. The enhanced puncture and impact resistance, improved sealing capabilities, high clarity and gloss and easy blending make mLLDPE favourable for stretch film, heavy duty sacks as well as flexible food packaging.

Following the introduction of mLLDPE in the 1990s, global demand now exceeds 7 million tons – representing nearly 20% of total LLDPE demand. mLLDPE growth is expected to continue at around five percent to 2030, driven by the rising use of mLLDPE in films which take advantage of the material’s improved physical properties, and/or and opportunities to downgauge.

An important growth driver for mLLDPE is it’s usage in food packaging films. The high growth in co-extrusion is one of the major reasons for mLLDPE growth in films in general and in food packaging in particular. The growing demand for enhanced film performance in specific end-uses has promoted co extrusion. For example, different layers can be used in shipping sacks depending on the material to be packaged, or in fresh produce packaging, tailoring moisture vapour transmission rates. These higher cost, high performance mLLDPE products are best employed in tailored layers.

Global metallocene-capable LLDPE capacity is expected to exceed 26 million tons per year by the end of 2025. North America has the largest share of metallocene-capable capacity – both Dow and ExxonMobil are leading producers in the region. Dow and ExxonMobil have also set up large capacity in South-East Asia, while Japanese and South Korean companies not only build domestic plants but also own or co-own plants in South-East Asia.

Recent mLLDPE capacity addition is focused mostly in North America and Asia Pacific, from both existing and new market players. Borealis, Total Energies, OQ and LG Chem started up new mLLDPE capable plants between 2020-2025, in addition to several plants in China by Chinese producers. Repsol are set to open their 300 000 ton per annum plant in Sines, Portugal in 2025. CSPC have a 600 000 ton per annum facility expected online in 2027. Luoyan petrochemical is currently constructing a plant in Henan, with a capacity of 300 000 tons per year, predicted to start up next year. S-Oil has two 400 000 tons per year lines expected to start up in 2026 in Ulsan, South Korea.

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Market Insights: Metallocene LLDPE - 2025

This report includes discussion regarding key market trends, as well as demand and supply analysis by product and end use.

Regions include North America, South America, Western Europe, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa, China and Other Asia Pacific. Analysis also includes the capacity listing, market drivers, market constraints and pricing and margin analysis by product (C6 and C8 mLLDPE) and key market.

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