David Platt

R-PET prices continued to rise in March, R-LDPE film grade prices climbed to their highest level in almost two years

Standard thermoplastics prices rise in March across all materials except PET

Producers had to lower their plans for sizeable price hikes in March because of weak demand and buyer resistance

Standard recyclate demand remained well below normal levels at the beginning of the new year, even though converters started to replenish their stocks.

At the start of the new year, standard thermoplastics prices saw very limited movement following stable ethylene and propylene prices. The overall demand picture remained lacklustre, due to ongoing economic weakness and geopolitical uncertainties, while supply remained more than adequate, despite the production cutbacks.

Standard recyclate prices either dipped slightly or were unchanged during the final month of last year, and, with the exception of R-PET, are being rolled over at the beginning of the New Year. 

R-PET prices rise on higher costs

Material availability for LLDPE, PP, PET and PS is normal, but at a low level, while for LDPE and base PVC, supply is tighter.

Higher import costs, together with unsatisfactory producers’ margins, shifted pricing expectations toward a firmer market outlook in January. However, expectations failed to materialise by mid-January

Prices are down across the board this month in very thin trading

Processors minimising stocks as year-end approaches

Standard thermoplastics producers have attempted to improve their underperforming margins over the last two months, but, with the exception of PVC, have largely been unsuccessful because of persistent low demand and adequate supply.

PVC's surprising resilience can be attributed to the margin recovery attempts by producers that have been keeping the momentum tilted to the upside over the previous few months.

Suppliers focusing on inventory reduction

PS grades see reductions of €200/tonne following a drop of €202/tonne for the styrene monomer reference price