Polymer Prices Standard Thermoplastics

Polypropylene September 2014: Rebates match C3 cost decline / Compounds affected proportionately / Output of standard products adjusted to demand / October likely to see strong rollover

Styrenics September 2014: Falling feedstocks pressure polymers / Producers pass on cost relief only for PS / Demand improves after summer holidays / Little price movement likely in October

PVC September 2014: Cost declines passed on in full / Producers‘ margins remain under pressure / Demand from the construction sector falls short of expectations / Prices likely to roll over in October

Standard Thermoplastics Trend September 2014: Producers' concessions mostly below cost relief / Distributors more flexible / Price pressure remains / Outlook still somewhat murky

Polyethylene August 2014: Most producers pass on ethylene cost reduction / Impact of upstream decline diverted / Substantial price cuts likely in September

Polypropylene August 2014: Most producers forced to pass on cost relief / Summer holidays dampen demand / C3 decline propels downturn / Run on material could lead to early order stops in September

PVC August 2014: Producers fail to improve their margins / Most notations fall slightly / Slack construction sector dampens demand / Decline in ethylene pulls prices down

Styrenics August 2014: Minor concessions for standard grades / ABS sees some upward momentum / Slack building demand pressures / Sinking SM notations set the pace for September

Standard Thermoplastics Trend August 2014: Polyolefin producers resist calls to pass on full cost reduction / Prices nevertheless still under pressure / Downward tendency will prevail during the rest of the month

Polyethylene July 2014: Almost entire rise in ethylene costs passed on / Hopes of additional margin improvement seldom realised / VAM supply improves / Prices expected to soften in August

Polypropylene July 2014: Pricing includes only slight margin component / Compounds stable / Bottleneck moves from feedstock to polymer / FMs restrict PP supply / C3 pass-through unlikely

PVC July 2014: Producers fail to realise their margin goals / Hikes limited to proportionate ethylene cost rise / Pressure on margins remains / Hardly any supply bottlenecks / Prices likely to crumble as C2 takes a dive and amid summer holiday season

Styrenics July 2014: Expensive SM drives prices higher on a broad front / Only PS producers able to pass on most of their cost rise / Converters buy the bare minimum / Signs of stability in August

Standard Thermoplastics Trend July 2014: Producers successfully pass on rises for PS, PVC and most polyolefins / Hikes for LDPE, PP up slightly / EPS remains under SM cost rise / LDPE could climb further

Polyethylene June 2014: Most increases slightly higher than the cost increase / Producers' efforts to pass on higher costs meet with mixed success / Rising ethylene notation and tighter market set stage for substantial hikes in July

Polypropylene June 2014: Hikes for regular orders slightly exceed cost rise / Top-up requests cost more / C3 tightness eases slightly / FMs in France and Poland limit availability / July will see additional upward momentum

PVC June 2014: Increases remain marginal / Most producers only manage to pass on the proportionate ethylene rise / Margins still under pressure / Rising ethylene will drive prices in July

Styrenics June 2014: Short breather with declines across the board / PS producers pass on full cost reduction / Converters rush to refill inventories / Substantial hikes in sight for July

Standard-Thermoplastics Trend June 2014: Polyolefins notching up / Most producers net more than the cost rise / PVC gaining ground / Monomer decline not fully factored in to PS / All signs point toward further rises

Polyethylene May 2014: Market turns around / Producers realise strong rollover and several slight increases / Upward trend likely to gain momentum in June

Polypropylene May 2014: Notations for standard grades gain more momentum / Upward pressure from tight C3 / Compounds remain stable / Across-the-board hikes likely in June

PVC May 2014: Slight rise for base material and rigid blends notations / Market largely balanced / Producers‘ margins remain pressured / Hikes very likely in June

Styrenics May 2014: Hikes only partly in line with higher production costs / Converters hold back / Speculation about rebates in June could pay off as costs decline

Standard Thermoplastics Trend May 2014: Prices rise on a broad front / Shortfalls drive PP and EVA upward / Most PE grades add momentum / Styrenics producers pass on higher costs

Polyethylene April 2014: Producers' attempts to hike prices largely fail / Stability despite falling costs / Prices could rise moderately in May / EVA pressured by VAM shortage