Petrochemical Division
Romania’s Sole Polymer Producer
The Petrochemical Division is the only polymer producer in Romania, supplying more than half of the domestic demand for petrochemical products.
Its output is marketed both domestically and across the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions, as well as in Central and Eastern Europe. The development of this segment has been supported by effective integration with the Petromidia Refinery, continuous investments in plant modernization, and ongoing diversification of the product portfolio to meet the latest industrial application requirements.
Petrochemical Division’s Development Strategy
In 2025, the company restarted the Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Unit, which had been shut down at the end of 2023 due to unfavorable market conditions. During that period, the Petrochemical Division relied solely on the Polypropylene (PP) Unit. The polyolefin grades (polypropylene and polyethylene) manufactured on the Petromidia platform are used in agriculture, the food industry, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), personal hygiene products, electronics and electrical engineering, the automotive industry, textiles, and construction.
The LDPE Unit is distinguished by the operation of a compressor with an installed capacity of 6.8 MW - the largest piece of rotating equipment within the refinery. The reactor operates at an average pressure of 2,300–2,400 bar, while ethylene is stored in a dedicated cryogenic tank at -103°C.
Ethylene is one of the most in-demand crude oil derivatives on the global market. Low inventory levels at refineries producing ethylene - including facilities operating steam crackers (specialized pyrolysis units that convert refinery secondary streams into petrochemical feedstocks) - have been among the factors affecting the availability of feedstock required for the LDPE Unit.
With an annual production capacity of 75 thousand tons, the unit supplies finished grades for shrink film, agricultural film, heavy-duty sacks, and thin packaging film - products that support multiple industries across Romania.
Integration with Petromidia Refinery
which supplied the entire
quantity of polypropylene
Investments
in retrofitting
of the plants
Diversification of product ranges
to support
the latest applications
Units of the Petrochemical Division
PP plant
polypropylene plant
LDPE plant
low-density polyethylene
HDPE plant:
high-density polyethylene
220,000 tons/year
Aggregated capacity
The only marine terminal
for ethylene discharge at the Black Sea
Cryogenic tank
storage capacity of 10,000 tons
Figures that matter
Results 2025
In 2025, the Petrochemical Division processed 82 thousand tons of propylene and total polymer production was about 85 thousand tons.
In 2025, the petrochemical division processed 114 thousand tons of propylene and ethylene, marking an increase compared to 2024. This was driven by the restart of the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) unit after it was shut down for one and a half years.
Read more about the financial and operational results in 2025
20.8%
polypropylene production
represented by special sorts
84.86 thousand tons
Total polymers production
53.355 thousand tons
Production of
polypropylene (PP)
31.5 thousand tons
LDPE
2.79% wt
Technological loss
20.74 GJ/t
Energy index
2025
Evolution of the Petrochemical Division
Start in petrochemistry
The petrochemical platform covering the pyrolysis, polypropylene, low-density polyethylene and high-density polyethylene plants was commissioned
A new beginning
After modernization, the LDPE was restarted after more than 10 years of non-operation, and a cryogenic terminal to supply ethylene is built in Port of Midia.
Preparation for performance
The Group was taken-over by KazMunayGas, and the HDPE was recommissioned, plus two new automated polymer packaging plants were brought in.
The HDPE plant (high-density polyethylene) was also recommissioned, as well as two new automated polymer packaging plants.
Major investments
A large-scale investment programme was kicked-off, and led to a more than 70% capacity increase for the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plant, reduced costs, and more diversified products.
Automation of the plants, and integration of the petrochemical operations into the command and control center of Petromidia Refinery, a first at that time for Romania, as well as for the South East Europe, were concluded.
Diversification programme
A large-scale program was started to diversify the ranges of products and adapt them to the current market demands. New PP and LDPE sorts were developed.
Operational records
The only domestic producer of polypropylene and polyethylenes accomplished five operational records.
Diversity
Diversification of polypropilene special sorts, representing 22% share of total production.
Restarting the LDPE Unit at Petromidia
In 2025, Rompetrol Rafinare resumed production at the Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) unit at the Petromidia Refinery, following a USD 1.5 million investment and the successful completion of technological testing. This restart further consolidates the company’s position as the sole domestic polymer producer and supports the growing demand in the petrochemical market.
