Polymer Prices Standard Thermoplastics

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

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