Polymer Prices Standard Thermoplastics

Standard Thermoplastics PVC June 2013: Margins on S-PVC improve less than hoped / Blends rise on higher matrix / Paste rolls over / Hikes sought despite lower cost base

Standard Thermoplastics Trend June 2013: Producers push for margin improvement / Tighter supply supports plans for PE hikes / Other polymers moving higher / Demand still below expectations

Standard Thermoplastics May 2013: Producers hang onto some of their cost relief / Hopes of turnaround unfulfilled / Bottoming out points the way to balanced market / Hikes in June likely

Standard Thermoplastics PVC May 2013: Large percentage of cost reductions passed on / Plasticised compounds strong downward adjustment / Paste prices also falling / Consolidation in June

Standard Thermoplastics Trend May 2013: Naphtha rise not enough to trigger a run / Demand still modest / Ongoing battle for share of cost relief / No Turnaround in sight

Standard Thermoplastics April 2013: PE producers forced to pass on full cost reduction / PP holds up better / PVC and PS buyers also see price cuts / Rising trend in May possible

Standard Thermoplastics PVC April 2013: Most of ethylene decline is passed on for base grades / Plasticiser rebates pressure some products / Pastes hold up / Falling notations certain in May

Standard Thermoplastics Trend April 2013: Producers hold onto half of cost reductions / Falling naphtha strengthens converters' waiting game / Intensity of demand revival will decide further developments

Standard Thermoplastics in March 2013: Producers find it hard to pass on costs / Cold weather, soft markets and reluctant buyers dash hike hopes / Cost reduction and rising demand jockey for position in April

Standard Thermoplastics PVC March 2013: Deep freeze in building sector allows only minimal cost pass-through for S-PVC base / Rising plasticiser prices drive S-PVC (P) compounds / April picture dominated by rollover, despite falling ethylene notation

Standard Thermoplastics Trend March 2013: Falling costs upstream dash producers' hopes of triple-digit hikes / Polyolefins rise less than costs / Higher input prices added to PVC, PS and EPS / Supply in line with demand

Standard Thermoplastics PVC February 2013: Minor increases for base polymer / Additives stable / Paste grade flat / Weak building demand pressures / Pronounced upswing expected in spring

Standard Thermoplastics in February 2013: Most notations show little change / PE largely rolls over / PP and PVC up slightly / PS and EPS slightly softer / Demand slack / Upturn likely in March

Standard Thermoplastics Trend February 2013: Buyers turn a deaf ear on hike plans / Stable costs dampen momentum / Demand still slack / First upstream cost rises appear / Price spiral could turn upward

Standard Thermoplastics in January 2013: Price hikes come to a halt in mid-month / Producers still net reasonable margin gains / Slow start to demand / February likely similar

Standard Thermoplastics PVC January 2013: Producers manage to lift S-PVC base notations slightly / Matrix component in blends rising / Additives mostly stable / No movement for PVC pastes

Standard Thermoplastics Trend January 2013: Slight margin improvement for polyolefin producers / No sharp order rise at month's begin / PVC and EPS still weak / PS moving in tandem with costs

Standard Thermoplastics PVC December 2012: S-PVC base notations decline amid end-of-year stagnation / Compounds follow suit / Many additives also tend slightly down / PVC pastes down / Slack ordering from automotive sector

Standard Thermoplastics in December 2012: PE slide halted / PP follows monomer downward / PS producers recoup cost rises / PVC and EPS prices softer / Polyolefin producers will seek triple-digit hikes in January

PVC November 2012: S-PVC base material gives up ground / Additives lead to some firming in compounds / Paste grades remain stable / Pilot report for extended PIE price reporting

Standard Thermoplastics Trend December 2012: Notations tend unusually firm / Occasional increases for PE / Only building applications weaker / Fear of triple-digit rises in January

Standard Thermoplastics in November 2012: Autumn mist softens notations / Producers see fresh margin losses / Supply stabilises / December could see an unusual stabilisation

PVC: Tectonic shifts in the European market balance / New developments in additives and global changes alter traditional framework / PIE to reorganise its reports in January 2013

Standard Thermoplastics Trend November 2012: Polyolefins continue to crumble / PVC, PS and EPS producers try to resist declines / Costs down slightly / Bonus-linked orders start to flow in / Few bargains

Standard Thermoplastics in October 2012: Slack demand pressures polyolefins / Cost pressure eases / Only PS makes slight gain / More price concessions likely in expected slow November trading