HDPE 5000S vs. 5502 vs. 7260: Grade Selection + the 5502 Naming Trap

Summary: 5000S (MFI 0.28) = small container blow molding. 5502AA (MFI 1.3-1.5) = large container blow molding. 5502GA (MFI 2.0) = injection molding. 7260 (MFI 0.6-0.8) = packaging film. Always specify the suffix on your PO — "5502" without a suffix is the most common ordering mistake in Chinese HDPE.

You order "HDPE 5502" from your Chinese trader. The container arrives. Your blow molding line struggles — inconsistent parison thickness, poor wall distribution, containers failing drop tests. You check the COA: MFI 2.0 g/10min. Your process needs MFI 0.3.

What happened? Your trader shipped 5502GA (injection molding grade) instead of 5502AA (blow molding grade). Same base number. Completely different products. The suffix is everything — and most traders don't specify it unless you ask.

This is not an unusual mistake. HDPE grade designations in the Chinese system carry more information in their suffixes and context than in their base numbers. This guide breaks down the three most-traded Chinese HDPE grades in Vietnam by what they actually do, how to specify them correctly, and which producers to ask for.

Why MFI matters this much: In blow molding, the polymer hangs as a molten tube (parison) that must support its own weight before the mold closes. Lower MFI = higher molecular weight = stronger melt = the parison doesn't sag. That's why 5000S (MFI 0.28) handles small precise containers and 5502AA (MFI 1.3-1.5) handles larger drums where some sag is acceptable but ESCR must be high for chemical resistance.

For film, the polymer must form a stable bubble during blown film extrusion. MFI 0.6-0.8 gives 7260 enough melt strength for bubble stability while allowing reasonable throughput.

What it is: A very low MFI blow molding grade optimized for containers in the 0.2-60 liter range — foodstuff containers, medicine bottles, cosmetics bottles, household chemical bottles.

Verified specifications (from Sinopec product documentation):

Processing window: Melt temperature 190-220C, mold temperature 15-25C. Maximum moisture content 0.2% — predrying recommended for consistent parison.

Producers:

• Sinopec: Yangzi (Nanjing), Yanshan (Beijing), Maoming (Guangdong), Zhenhai (Ningbo), Qilu (Shandong)
• PetroChina: Daqing, Lanzhou

When to specify 5000S:

• Containers under 60 liters where wall thickness uniformity matters
• Food-grade bottles (confirm FDA/GB compliance on COA)
• Applications requiring high ESCR (>600h) — household chemicals, cleaning products
• When your blow molding machine runs accumulator heads for precise parison control

Variant note: Some producers offer a 5000B sub-variant optimized specifically for thin-wall bottles, with a slightly lower MFI target than 5000S. Verify specifications on COA — designations vary between plants.

This is where most ordering mistakes happen. "5502" exists in at least two distinct variants with very different applications:

HDPE 5502GA — Injection Molding (NOT blow molding)

Verified specifications (from Sinopec product documentation):

ESCR of only 20 hours. This is an injection molding grade — food containers, trays, housewares, medical device parts. It is NOT suitable for blow-molded chemical containers that require hundreds of hours of crack resistance. If your trader quotes "5502" for blow molding at a suspiciously good price, check whether it's 5502GA.

HDPE 5502AA — Blow Molding

When to specify 5502AA specifically:

• Bottles and containers in the 1-220+ liter range
• Chemical drums and jerrycans requiring high ESCR
• Applications where the container must resist stress cracking from detergents, solvents, or agricultural chemicals

How to avoid the naming trap:

1. Always specify the suffix: "5502AA" on your PO, not just "5502"
2. Request COA and check ESCR value — if ESCR is under 100 hours, you received the injection variant
3. Check MFI — 2.0 = injection (GA), 1.3-1.5 = blow molding (AA)

No. "7260" refers to two completely different products depending on origin:

If you're sourcing from China, "7260" means the film grade. If you're replacing a Western specification that calls for "Hostalen GC 7260," you need a Chinese injection grade at MFI ~8 — not the Chinese 7260 at all.

Chinese HDPE 7260 specifications (from trade sources):

Producers: Sinopec (multiple plants), PetroChina (multiple plants — the HSGC7260 designation is a PetroChina variant with established export documentation including FDA, REACH, and RoHS compliance)

Related film grades to know:

• DGDB 6097 (PetroChina Daqing) — one of the two most-traded Chinese HDPE film grades in Southeast Asia (alongside Sinopec 6095). Standard MFI (I2, 190C/2.16kg) approximately 0.05-0.18 g/10min; HLMI (21.6kg) approximately 7-9 g/10min. Density ~0.946-0.952. Primary substitute for Q-Chem TR-144 and SABIC F00952.
• Sinopec 6095 (Yanshan) — the other of the two most-traded Chinese HDPE film grades in SE Asia. Similar specification to DGDB 6097, sometimes used interchangeably in trade
• HDPE 9255 — higher MFI (~2.5 per trade sources, verify COA), higher output on fast blown film lines. Used for shopping bags, light-duty packaging, agricultural film.

One quality difference Vietnamese film converters should know: Chinese HDPE film grades are predominantly unimodal (single-reactor process). Korean and Saudi equivalents (Q-Chem TR-144, SABIC F00952) are often bimodal (dual-reactor process), which produces higher dart drop impact strength — approximately 5-10% higher per industry testing. For basic packaging film, this difference is immaterial. For heavy-duty sacks or stretch-hood applications, it may affect performance.

Need help matching your application to the right grade? Tell us what you make — product type, volume, and current grade — and our sourcing team will recommend matched Chinese grades with current pricing.

HDPE grades in China follow a predictable pricing structure based on specification difficulty:

• Film grades (7260, 9255, DGDB 6097) — lowest price tier. Commodity volumes, many producers, competitive market.
• Blow molding grades (5000S, 5502AA) — modest premium above film. Tighter ESCR specifications and narrower MFI windows mean fewer producers qualify. Premium over film grades varies with market conditions but is typically noticeable — driven by the smaller producer pool and tighter quality requirements.
• Injection grades (5502GA) — price similar to film grades. High volume, commodity specification, many producers.

The hierarchy reflects production economics: tighter specs = lower yield rates = higher per-ton cost. For buyers sourcing multiple HDPE grades, understanding this hierarchy prevents overpaying for commodity-spec product and underpaying (and underspecifying) for grades that need to perform.

Based on the naming traps documented above, every HDPE purchase order to a Chinese supplier should include:

1. Full grade designation with suffix — "5502AA" not "5502"
2. Target MFI with acceptable range — "MFI 0.28 +/-0.05" not "low MFI"
3. Target density — confirms you're getting the right grade family
4. ESCR requirement — "ESCR >500h per ASTM D1693" for blow molding applications
5. COA before shipment — compare every batch against your spec before it loads
6. Producer/plant name — "Sinopec Yangzi" not "Sinopec" (different plants, different consistency)

Chinese HDPE grades can show MFI variation of +/-10-15% between different Sinopec/PetroChina plants producing the same grade designation. This is partly because different subsidiaries may use different catalyst systems (Ziegler-Natta vs. chrome) and reactor configurations (slurry vs. gas phase), producing the same nominal grade with subtly different molecular weight distributions.

Practical impact for Vietnamese converters: You may notice differences in die swell, melt fracture onset, and cooling behavior between the same grade from different Chinese plants. This doesn't mean the product is defective — it means you need to tune your process for each source. The first run from a new producer should always be a trial batch, not a full production commitment.

Every plant, every batch, every reactor configuration produces subtly different material. Knowing which Sinopec subsidiary made your 5502AA — and whether Daqing's DGDB 6097 outperforms Yanshan's 6095 on your specific film line — requires evaluating dozens of sources per grade. Most traders work 5-20 supplier relationships. The full China HDPE market is much larger.

What is the difference between HDPE 5502GA and 5502AA?

5502GA is an injection molding grade (MFI 2.0, ESCR only 20 hours). 5502AA is a blow molding grade (MFI 1.3-1.5, ESCR >500 hours). They share the same base number but serve completely different applications. The GA variant is for trays, food containers, and housewares. The AA variant is for chemical drums, jerrycans, and bottles requiring crack resistance. Always specify the suffix on your purchase order.

What does GA mean in HDPE grade designations?

In Chinese HDPE naming, GA typically indicates an injection molding variant. AA typically indicates a blow molding variant. The letters are not universally standardized across all Chinese producers, so always verify the MFI and ESCR on the COA rather than relying solely on the suffix.

Is HDPE 5000S a blow molding grade or a pipe grade?

The Chinese Sinopec HDPE 5000S is a blow molding grade (MFI 0.28, density 0.954) for containers in the 0.2-60 liter range. This is different from some international PE100 pipe grade designations that may share similar numbering. If you need a pipe grade, look for TR-480M or GA7260 (both PE100-class, MFI ~0.02).

What is the ESCR of HDPE 5000S vs. 5502?

HDPE 5000S: ESCR >600 hours (ASTM D1693, F50, 50C, 10% ICL). HDPE 5502AA: ESCR >500-700 hours. HDPE 5502GA: ESCR only 20 hours. For any chemical-contact container, you need the AA variant or 5000S — not GA.

Can HDPE 7260 be used for blow molding?

No. Chinese HDPE 7260 is a film grade (MFI 0.6-0.8) designed for blown film extrusion. Its MFI is in the wrong range for parison-based blow molding. For blow molding, use 5000S (small containers) or 5502AA (large containers).

Which HDPE grade is best for chemical drums?

HDPE 5502AA (MFI 1.3-1.5, ESCR >500 hours). The high ESCR is critical — chemical drums must resist stress cracking from detergents, solvents, and agricultural chemicals over months or years of use. Do not use 5502GA (ESCR only 20 hours).

Is Chinese HDPE 7260 the same as Hostalen GC 7260?

No. Chinese HDPE 7260 is a film grade (MFI 0.6-0.8, density 0.952-0.956). Hostalen GC 7260 (LyondellBasell) is an injection molding grade (MFI 8.0, density 0.960). Same number, completely different products. If you're replacing a Western specification calling for Hostalen GC 7260, you need a Chinese injection grade at MFI ~8 — not the Chinese 7260.

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Grade specifications reflect data as of Q2 2026, compiled from producer documentation and trade sources. Specifications can vary between production plants and batches. Always verify against COA for each shipment. For current pricing on specific HDPE grades, tell us what you need — grade, application, volume, and destination — and our sourcing team will respond with matched producers, specifications, and current FOB pricing.

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