Polymer Prices Standard Thermoplastics

Standard Thermoplastics in January 2011: Polyolefins and PS go through the roof with triple-digit rises / Only PVC calm / Supply tight / Demand robust / Cost pressure intensifies / Situation increasingly dramatic

Standard Thermoplastics Trend January 2011: Notations leap ahead by triple-digit margin / Monomer increases push PVC, too / Output bottlenecks keep supply just balanced / Good economy boosts order volume / Upward momentum continues

Standard Thermoplastics in December 2010: Prices up again in the last month of 2010 / Higher costs passed on for polyolefins and PS / Snow stifles PVC and EPS / Ordering lively / Extensive hikes planned

Standard Thermoplastics Trend December 2010: Prices still rising / Costs drive polyolefins and PS / Low season pressures PVC and EPS / PE supply crunch / Orders above expectations / Will the high continue?

Standard Thermoplastics in November 2010: Notations firmer in aftermath of French strikes / Cost hikes largely factored in / PVC and EPS markets still sluggish / Weakening euro fuels upward momentum

Standard Thermoplastics Trend November 2010: French strikes push prices up again / Half the cost rise factored into polyolefins / PS recoups SM hike in full / PVC in strong rollover / Limited output slows momentum

Standard Thermoplastics in October 2010: French strikes halt slide in notations / LDPE firm / PP down / PVC rolls over / PS moves up / Supply tight / Cost rise brings storm clouds

Standard Thermoplastics Trend October 2010: Polyolefins largely stable / PVC remains in low gear / PS margins continue to improve / EPS down / Close watch on impact of French strikes

Standard Thermoplastics in September 2010: Polyolefins bend under pressure / PVC makes little progress / PS margins improve / EPS demand sluggish / Supply improves while demand slackens / Price pressure continues

Standard Thermoplastics Trend September 2010: Polyolefins move sidewards / EVA tight and expensive / PVC inches upward / PS firms considerably / Supply gradually normalising / Strong demand / Trends are stable

Standard Thermoplastics in August 2010: Polyolefins continue to crumble / PVC and PS rise slightly / Slight surplus pressures EPS / Supply more stable / Imports normalise / Lively despite summer holidays

Standard Thermoplastics Trend August 2010: Polyolefin prices crumble / Falling feedstock costs pressure producers / PVC up slightly / PS mostly stable / Supply normalising / Demand strong despite holidays

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