Polymer Prices Standard Thermoplastics

PVC March 2017: Margin improvement for base material producers / Market situation tightening / Cost increase for scarce titanium dioxide drives up rigid grades still further / Continuing upwards movement

Styrenics March 2017: Prices reach their peak / All-time highs after latest SM increase / High price level dampens demand / Price correction in April / Three-digit decreases across the board anticipated

Standard Thermoplastics Trend March 2017: Prices rise across the board / Margin increases nevertheless generally moderate / Styrenics reach record highs

Polyethylene February 2017: Producers succeed in bringing about a trend turnaround / Mostly moderate margin increase / Imports from Middle East down to a trickle / Further price rises expected in March / Maintenance turnarounds restrict supply

Styrenics February 2017: All-time high of PS and ABS prices / Exorbitant SM price increase fuels skyrocketing notations / No full cost transfer / Price rally continues / EPS also approaching record high

Polypropylene February 2017: Producers pass costs through for all grades / Copo sees first margin gains / Supply limitations palpable in March / Demand swells / Prices rising sharply

PVC February 2017: Producers achieve the hoped-for trend reversal / Brisk orders and export opportunities allow initial small margin improvements / Clearer upwards movement in March over a broad front

Standard Thermoplastics Trend February 2017: Moderate margin improvements for the polyolefins / PVC still slightly weaker / Styrenics explode along with the monomer / Upward pressure to continue

Styrenics January 2017: Steep climb continues as SM drives / Most of cost rise passed on in direct deals / Rally gathers momentum / Historic highs likely for PS and ABS in February

Polypropylene January 2017: European producers fail to improve margins as costs cannot be passed on / Demand expected to rise in February / Prices on the way up

Polyethylene January 2017: Most producers pass on their higher costs / Demand still slow / Winter lull as pipe grades perform below average / Margin increases in February are a distinct possibility

PVC January 2017: Ethylene costs have essentially been passed on / Margin improvements put off until February / Increased costs and export opportunities pushing up notations still further

Standard Thermoplastics Trend January 2017: Cost increases mostly factored in without problems / Raising margins proves more difficult / Quiet start to the year

Styrenics December 2016: Steep SM cost increase drives notations upwards / Triple-digit hikes for PS and EPS / ABS reaches annual high / Uptrend expected to continue in January

Polypropylene December 2016: Producers forced to pass on cost relief / Compounds also drift downward / Hikes inevitable as new year starts / Suppliers seeking additional structural adjustments

Polyethylene December 2016: Most producers pass on lower costs / 2016 ends on a calm note / Suppliers prepare for January price offensive / Calls for margin restoration

PVC December 2016: Cost reductions for base material passed on / Plasticiser shortage triggers price hikes for flexible compounds / Across-the-board rises expected for January

Standard Thermoplastics Trend December 2016: Polyolefins and PVC notations decline / Triple-digit hike for styrenics / Demand muted as year draws to a close / Stability likely to prevail until New Year

Polyethylene November 2016: Weak demand prevents producers from passing on higher costs / LLD down again amid a flood of imports / Pipe sector suffers from slow sales / Further falls likely in December

Polypropylene November 2016: Hikes clearly below cost rise / Slack demand and falling C3 spot dampen market momentum / Prices sure to point downward in December

PVC November 2016: Producers' price rises fail to cover the cost increase / Additives drive up blend prices more than average / Notations likely to slip in December

Styrenics November 2016: Notations end their downward trend / Full cost transfer only for ABS / Price expectations boost demand / December will see significant increases

Standard Thermoplastics Trend November 2016: Notations follow higher monomer costs / Most increases fall short of cost rise / Limited availability of low-density PE grades / Prices likely to remain stable for the rest of the month

Polypropylene October 2016: Hikes across the board but below production cost rise / Supply normalises despite import weakness / Prices expected to spiral upward again in November

Polyethylene October 2016: Notations stagnant or declining despite rise in C2 / Some materials tend towards a surplus / Latest ethylene increase will likely bring price hikes in November