Chinese HDPE 2026: 5000S, 5502 and GC 7260 Grade Selection

Summary: Chinese HDPE grade codes are not strictly standardized — order by application and verified specification, not by the code alone. 5000S is primarily a raffia / monofilament grade (low melt flow). 5502 is a low-melt-flow blow molding grade. "7260" in Western trade is Hostalen GC 7260, an injection grade (MFI ~8) — not a film grade. All figures below are indicative; confirm against the producer COA/TDS for your lot.

You order "HDPE 5000S" from your Chinese trader expecting a blow molding grade for your bottle line. The container arrives, you check the COA, and the melt flow is far lower than a blow grade should run — because the dominant 5000S in trade is a raffia / monofilament grade, not a blow molding grade. Or you order "7260" against a Western drawing that called for Hostalen GC 7260 and receive something nowhere near MFI 8. The grade code did not mean what you assumed.

This is the core hazard in Chinese HDPE procurement: grade codes are not strictly standardized across producers, and a base number can map to genuinely different products. The fix is not memorizing a code table — it is ordering by application and verified specification (MFI, density, ESCR), and requiring a COA before shipment.

This guide breaks down three HDPE grade codes that buyers in Vietnam routinely encounter — 5000S, 5502, and "7260" — by what they actually are, and how to specify what you need correctly. Every figure here is indicative; confirm against the producer's COA/TDS for your lot.

The table above is the single most useful correction in this guide: 5000S is not a blow molding grade, and "7260" in Western trade is an injection grade, not a film grade. Both assumptions are common and both lead to the wrong material on the line.

Why melt flow matters in blow molding: the polymer hangs as a molten tube (parison) that must support its own weight before the mold closes. Lower melt flow = higher molecular weight = stronger melt = the parison does not sag. That is why a blow molding grade like 5502 runs at a low MFI (~0.25-0.35), while an injection grade like GC 7260 runs much higher (~8) because it must fill a mold under pressure, not hang as a self-supporting parison.

What it actually is: Primarily a raffia / monofilament grade — a low-melt-flow HDPE used for woven sacks, rope, nets, and monofilament, not blow-molded containers. The single most common mistake with this code is assuming "5000S" means a bottle/jerrycan blow grade; the dominant 5000S in trade is not.

Indicative specifications (confirm against the producer COA/TDS for your lot — these are not from a single producer's published datasheet):

Why melt flow is low for raffia: the molten polymer is drawn into tapes or filaments that must hold tensile strength without breaking. A low MFI (higher molecular weight) gives the tape the draw-down strength it needs. This is a different reason for low MFI than blow molding's parison strength — but it explains why 5000S is not interchangeable with a higher-flow film or injection grade.

When 5000S is the right grade:

• Woven polypropylene-style HDPE sacks, raffia tape, rope, agricultural and fishing nets, monofilament

If you actually need a blow molding grade and were quoted "5000S": stop and verify the application and MFI on the producer's TDS. Order by application and target specification, not by the code. For blow molding, see 5502 below.

HDPE 5502 is a low-melt-flow blow molding grade — a single grade, not a family of injection-versus-blow variants. There is no reliable "AA = blow / GA = injection" suffix split for this code; do not order on the assumption that the suffix tells you the process. Order by application, MFI, density, and ESCR.

Indicative specifications (confirm against the producer COA/TDS for your lot):

Why the low melt flow: in blow molding the polymer hangs as a molten parison that must support its own weight before the mold closes. The low MFI gives the parison melt strength so it does not sag — which is exactly what a large bottle or jerrycan needs.

When to specify 5502:

• Bottles, jerrycans, and drums where parison melt strength matters
• Chemical containers — but ESCR is the binding property and it varies by producer and lot. Do not assume a number; specify a minimum F50 (ASTM D1693) on the PO and require ESCR data on the COA. For the most aggressive contents (concentrated detergents, solvents, agrochemicals), a bimodal grade may be required.

How to order HDPE blow molding grades without surprises:

1. Specify the application explicitly — "blow molding, jerrycan, 20L" — not just the code
2. Specify a target MFI with tolerance — e.g., "MFI ~0.3 ±0.05" — not "low MFI"
3. Specify an ESCR minimum where the contents are aggressive, and require ESCR on the COA
4. Require a COA before shipment and check it against your line's calibration window

In Western trade, "7260" means Hostalen GC 7260 (LyondellBasell) — an injection molding grade, not a film or blow molding grade. This is the referent that matters when you are matching a Western drawing or specification.

If you are replacing a Western specification that calls for "Hostalen GC 7260," you need a Chinese injection grade at MFI ~8 and density ~0.960 — not a low-melt-flow blow or raffia grade, and not a film grade. The number alone is not enough; match the MFI, density, and process, and pilot-test before committing volume.

A note on what this guide does NOT claim: there is no reliably confirmable native Chinese "7260" film grade or pipe grade that we will assert specifications for here. If a trader offers a Chinese "7260," treat the bare number as ambiguous and pin down application, MFI, and density on the TDS before ordering.

Related Chinese HDPE film grades to know (for film applications):

• 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.

Specify by application and target MFI. MFI ranges below are indicative — confirm on the COA.

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

• Film grades (9255, DGDB 6097, 6095) — typically the lowest price tier. Commodity volumes, many producers, competitive market.
• Raffia / monofilament grades (5000S) — commodity-priced, high-volume, many producers.
• Blow molding grades (5502 and similar low-melt-flow grades) — often a modest premium above commodity film, especially where a tighter ESCR specification narrows the qualifying producer pool. The premium varies with market conditions.
• Injection grades (e.g., GC 7260 equivalents at MFI ~8) — generally commodity-priced; high volume, 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. Treat the tiering as directional, not a fixed price ladder — relative pricing moves with feedstock and market conditions.

Because Chinese HDPE grade codes are not strictly standardized, every HDPE purchase order to a Chinese supplier should specify the requirement, not just the code:

1. Application stated explicitly — "blow molding, 20L jerrycan" — so the supplier cannot ship a different-process grade under the same number
2. Target MFI with acceptable range — "MFI ~0.3 +/-0.05" not "low MFI"
3. Target density — confirms you're getting the right grade family
4. ESCR requirement where it matters — "F50 >= [your minimum] per ASTM D1693" for chemical-contact blow molding; require ESCR data on the COA
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 blow molding grade — 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.

All MFI figures are indicative — verify on the COA for each shipment.

Is HDPE 5000S a blow molding grade?

No. HDPE 5000S is primarily a raffia / monofilament grade — a low-melt-flow HDPE (MFI approximately 0.8 g/10min at 190°C/2.16kg, density approximately 0.953) used for woven sacks, rope, and nets, not blow-molded containers. Some traders apply the 5000S code loosely to other grades, so the application and MFI on the producer's TDS matter more than the code. For blow molding, the relevant Chinese grade is 5502. These specs are indicative — confirm against the producer COA/TDS for your lot.

What is HDPE 5502 used for?

HDPE 5502 is a low-melt-flow blow molding grade — MFI roughly 0.25-0.35 g/10min (190°C/2.16kg), density approximately 0.954-0.955 — used for bottles, jerrycans, and drums. The low melt flow gives the molten parison enough melt strength to hold its shape. Treat the figures as indicative and verify ESCR and MFI on the COA for your application.

Is Chinese HDPE the same as Hostalen GC 7260?

No. Hostalen GC 7260 (LyondellBasell) is an injection molding grade — MFI approximately 8 g/10min (190°C/2.16kg), density approximately 0.960 — used for crates, housewares, and pails. It is not a film or blow molding grade. If your Western specification calls for GC 7260, you need a Chinese injection grade at MFI ~8 and density ~0.960, not a low-melt-flow blow or raffia grade. Pilot-test any substitute before committing volume.

Which HDPE grade is best for chemical drums and jerrycans?

A low-melt-flow blow molding grade such as 5502 (MFI roughly 0.25-0.35). The binding property is ESCR — chemical drums must resist stress cracking from detergents, solvents, and agricultural chemicals over months or years. ESCR varies by producer and lot, so specify a minimum F50 (ASTM D1693) on your PO and require ESCR data on the COA. For the most aggressive contents, a bimodal grade may be needed.

How do I avoid getting the wrong HDPE grade from a Chinese trader?

Order by application and target specification, not by the code alone. Chinese HDPE grade codes are not strictly standardized across producers, and a base number can map to different products. Always specify the application, a target MFI with tolerance, the density, an ESCR minimum where it matters, and the producer/plant — and require a COA before shipment so you can check the lot against your spec.

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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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