Polymer Prices Standard Thermoplastics

Standard Thermoplastics Trend December 2014: PE producers successfully stem the price slide / Concessions by PP and PVC suppliers approach cost reduction / Styrenics down by triple digits

Polyethylene November 2014: Producers' concessions mostly fall short of cost reduction / Tight market situation puts damper on declines for LLD and HD especially / Upstream price erosion will pressure notations in December, too

Polypropylene November 2014: Substantial downward corrections / Producers pocket some of the cost relief / Compounds lose ground, too / Price pressure will continue in December

PVC November 2014: Pressure from the oil chain forces producers to pass on cost relief / Demand from the construction sector still weak / Prices likely to remain under pressure in December

Styrenics November 2014: Notations under pressure / SM spot prices point the way / Converters cover only immediate needs / Feedstock declines herald sharp erosion in December

Standard Thermoplastics Trend November 2014: Cost reductions for olefins not yet matched in product prices / Price cuts nevertheless substantial / Supply now adjusted to demand / Styrenics stagnate / Stability dominates

Polyethylene October 2014: Predominantly stable notations / Fears of LD shortage are unfounded / Slight consolidation with standard import grades of LLD and HD / Significant price cuts possible in November

Polypropylene October 2014: Slight declines set the mark for standard grades / Compounds stable / Polymer will follow feedstock downward / Lower prices could stimulate inventory building

Styrenics October 2014: Notations trending sideways / PS sees slight dip due to oversupply / Moerdijk super outage has little immediate effect / Little change in price levels in November

PVC October 2014: All grades decline slightly / Demand somewhat more lively / November likely to see greater reductions / Processors could build up stocks

Standard Thermoplastics Trend October 2014: Rollover dominates the scene / Demand slows again / Full-scale outage in Moerdijk will overshadow proceedings through the rest of the month / Risk of price rises grows

Polyethylene September 2014: Several converters manage to win full feedstock cost reduction / Most producers net small margin increase / Demand below expectations / October could see prices rise slightly again

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