Polymer Prices Standard Thermoplastics

Standard Thermoplastics in July 2010: Most notations under pressure / Polyolefins give a little ground / PVC firmer / Falling costs drag styrenics down / Supplies lengthen / Downward trend likely to continue

Standard Thermoplastics Trend July 2010: Polyolefin notations run in place / PVC upswing loses some of its momentum / SM collapses / All styrenics in steady downtrend / Supply mostly limited / Order volume stable / Market may be turning around

Standard thermoplastics in June 2010: Polyolefins continue climbing / PVC catches up / Styrenic polymer producers improve margins / Supply still limited / Strong demand / First imports trickle in / Have notations peaked?

Standard Thermoplastics Trend June 2010: Further increases for polyolefins / Prices and margins return to pre-crisis level / PVC also gains ground / Styrenics producers gain as SM notations fall

Standard Thermoplastics in May 2010: Notations on a slow upward curve / Supply of many products remains limited / Demand boosted by seasonal effects / June will also be a sellers' market

Standard Thermoplastics Trend May 2010: Upsurge continues / Without higher costs many producers improve margins substantially / Supply generally tight / Demand lively but looking shakier

Standard Thermoplastics in April 2010: Further increases / PP and polystyrenes with triple-digit rise / LDPE margins improve / Supply still tight / Demand much livelier / Notations expected to rise less sharply in May

Standard Thermoplastics Trend April 2010: Prices still spiralling higher / LDPE and PP tightness bites / PP and styrenics see triple-digit rise / Lively seasonal demand coincides with supply shortfall

Standard Thermoplastics in March 2010: Further increases go through / Severe shortages of LDPE and PP / Unbalanced production / Imports scarce / Seasonal upturn begins / Price hikes will dominate the picture in April

Standard Thermoplastics Trend March 2010: Upward movement continues as Q1 ends / Size of hikes diminishes / Supplies show signs of tightening / Seasonal demand upswing thwarted by weather

Standard Thermoplastics in February 2010: Further massive increases for polyolefins / PVC producers pass on higher costs / PS margins improve / EPS stagnates / Supply tends tight / Upward price trend set to continue

Standard Thermoplastics Trend February 2010: Polyolefin prices rocket / Triple-digit rises the norm / PVC posts gains / PS margins improve / Building lull dampens EPS / Producers scramble to move notations up

Standard Thermoplastics in January 2010: Feedstock costs drive notations up significantly / Unusual circumstances / Converters in a bind / End markets put up resistance / Further rises likely in February

Standard Thermoplastics Trend January 2010: Steep price rise at the beginning of the new year / Polyolefins recoup feedstocks plus margins / Styrenics shock-frozen by cost explosion / Producers will defend hikes

Standard Thermoplastics in December 2009: Majority of polyolefins hold firm at November level / Occasional corrections / PVC remains weak / Cost increases factored into PS price / Rising notations likely in January

Standard Thermoplastics Trend December 2009: Hikes mostly moderate in the year's last month / Battles over PVC continue / PS moves up in line with SM / Oversupply pressure eases / Old year tiptoes out on velvet paws

Standard Thermoplastics in November 2009: Prices slip on a broad front / Polymer declines often greater than fall in feedstock costs / Supply predominantly balanced / Demand stabilises as building season ends / Firming tendency

Standard Thermoplastics Trend November 2009: Notations continue to crumble in parallel with feedstocks / Supply lengthened by imports / Converters reduce stocks to serve livelier end markets / Market settles in

Standard Thermoplastics in October 2009: Notations crumble on a broad front / Reaction to declining feedstock prices / Output aligned closely to weak demand / Pre-Christmas business looks shaky

Standard Thermoplastics Trend October 2009: Feedstock prices soften and put notations under heavy pressure / Imports improve supply situation / Tactical purchasing restraint as end markets remain calm

Standard Thermoplastics in September 2009: Soaring feedstocks provoke triple-digit polyolefin rises / PVC up, PS and EPS down / Restricted supply / High prices dampen demand / Hikes sought despite easing of cost burden

Standard Thermoplastics Trend September 2009: Polyolefins register triple-digit increase / PVC also up / Styrenics down / Producers' costs dominate sluggish demand / Petrochemicals unstable

Styrene monomer follows benzene downward

Standard Thermoplastics in August 2009: Feedstock costs drive notations up / Some polyolefins tight / PVC producers pass higher chlorine costs through the chain / SM increases are factored into styrenics / Mixed outlook

Standard Thermoplastics Trend August 2009: Notations continue climbing / Supply situation more balanced / Some PP and PVC products tight / Overall demand a little livelier / PS buyers still holding back