Polymer Prices Standard Thermoplastics

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

Standard Thermoplastics in July 2009: Producers push through significant hikes / Gains mostly top 10% / Buyers in desperate need / HDPE and PVC short / Plant maintenance still ongoing / Further increases certain

Standard Thermoplastics Trend July 2009: Feedstocks push resins forward / Shortages drive notations / Some polyolefins see triple-digit rise / PVC tight / Styrenics up less than SM / How quickly will feedstock costs fall?

Standard Thermoplastics in June 2009: Mostly moderate increases for polyolefins / PVC makes up lost ground / Styrenics trying to catch up to monomer / Speculation in oil could trigger new wave of cost increases

Standard Thermoplastics Trend June 2009: Polyethylene still shaky / No end to sluggish demand / PP and PVC up as producers are forced to recoup costs / PS matches monomer increase / EPS struggles upward

Standard Thermoplastics in May 2009: Producers' attempts to hike prices foiled by slack demand / Polyolefins in a weak rollover / PVC up slightly / Styrenics follow SM / Feedstocks rise / Outlook subdued

Standard Thermoplastics Trend May 2009: Polyolefins mostly roll over / Only LLDPE and PP homo make moderate gains / PVC, PS and EPS up more sharply / High prices brake PS volume offtake / Tug-of-war in some markets

Standard Thermoplastics in April 2009: Attempts to improve polyolefin margins fail due to poor demand / PVC in a weak rollover / PS and EPS rise / Inventories gradually shrinking / Moderate hikes on the horizon

Standard Thermoplastics Trend April 2009: Polyolefins see moderate rise / PVC stable despite sluggish construction / SM price leap shocks PS buyers / Slack demand pressures EPS / Livelier H2 could trigger hikes

Standard Thermoplastics in March 2009: PE price shock strangles end markets / PP moves up hesitantly / Stable PVC still suffering from building slump / PS follows monomer upward / EPS pipeline reviving / Outlook uncertain

Standard Thermoplastics Trend March 2009: Converters shocked by producers' demands / PE initially follows C2 / First step upward for PP / PVC more hesitant / PS higher but on thin ice / EPS ignores monomer increase / Consumer markets check further rises

Standard Thermoplastics in February 2009: Initial gains slip back during the course of the month / PE up slightly / PP in a rollover / PVC down marginally / Styrenics firmer / Outlook uncertain

Standard Thermoplastics Trend February 2009: Prices seem to have bottomed out / Ethylene contract lifts PE up / PP and PVC bulk business now stable / Styrenics rise, but margins narrow

Standard Thermoplastics in January 2009: Polyolefins at rock bottom / Feedstocks tend upwards / PVC prices sliding on a broad front / PS follows monomer / EPS pressured by depressed demand / Outlook is for firming

Standard Thermoplastics Trend January 2009: Polyolefin plunge subsides / Feedstock contracts in flux / PVC eases / PS follows monomer downward / EPS suffers from slack demand

Standard Thermoplastics in December 2008: Year-end fire sale further pressures polyolefins / PVC down slightly / More of SM price drop passed on / Producers' planned hikes aim to return stability to the market

Standard Thermoplastics Trend December 2008: Polyolefin plunge almost unstoppable / Triple-digit notations / PVC market mixed / Fresh SM fall heightens pressure / Some order revival / Downward potential exhausted?

Standard thermoplastics in November 2008: Polyolefins slump dramatically / Sharp declines drop notations into the triple-digit range / PVC sees more moderate setback / Will monomer crash trigger a further nosedive?

Standard Thermoplastics Trend November 2008: Prices continue to plunge / PE notations fall heavily again / PP and PVC decline more moderately / Styrenics pay the price for SM crash / No end to pressure

New "A-Plastixx" indices enable analysis of plastic prices by individual markets / Greater transparency for converters and their customers / Packaging, construction, automotive and E&E applications

Standard thermoplastics in October 2008: Notations in free fall / PE collapses / Demand weak overall / Many production cutbacks / Market seeks the bottom of the spiral / Benzene “implosion” unravels styrene chain

Standard Thermoplastics Trend October 2008: Prices for commodities plummet / No more fantasy in monomer rebates / Pipelines still well filled / Oversupply persists despite production cuts / Further price reductions possible

Standard Thermoplastics in September 2008: Most polymers on the decline at the end of Q3 / Buyers still holding back / Demand poor / Damage limitation through production cuts / Feedstock situation eases / Notations in October likely to soften further