Polymer Prices Standard Thermoplastics

Standard thermoplastics at the end of August 2006: PE injection moulding grades, PP and PVC stable / PE film grades up slightly / PS increase less than expected / EPS: "Blind" purchases / Further hikes on the agenda for September

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of August 2006: Uneven picture / PE film grades moving up / Injection moulding polyolefins and PVC stable / No relief in styrenics / EPS still short

Standard thermoplastics at the end of July 2006: Styrenics move up again significantly / Other commodities firm / Many advance purchases for August / Summer heat leads to curbing of plant output and temporary shutdowns / Distribution problems

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of July 2006: Only PS and EPS higher / Packaging and profiles see strong demand / Sufficient volumes available / Prices mainly stable

Standard thermoplastics at the end of June 2006: High prices stifle purchasing activity / Long inventories propel exports / Production shortfall for EPS pushes notations higher

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of June 2006: High prices put buyers off / Ethylene market rather unstable / Supply situation for several polymers tight / EPS producers´ inventories at historic low

Standard thermoplastics at the end of May 2006: Favourable economic situation drives prices up / All grades firm again / Virtually no shortages except for EPS / Demand expected to remain high

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of May 2006: Adequate supply of all grades / Notations pointing sharply upward / Feedstock situation still shaky

Standard thermoplastics at the end of April 2006: Record oil price triggers battle for volumes / Olefin prices unstable with crackers down / No uniform price picture / Hikes likely in May

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of April: Supplies adequate / Demand variable / Some price targets taken back

Standard thermoplastics at the end of March 2006: Price rises remain well below sellers´ demands / Reluctance to buy and oversupply dampen upswing / Q2: Olefin contracts higher

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of March: Moderate price increases / Polyolefin plants back on line / Supplies still limited

Standard thermoplastics end of February: Hikes for polyolefins and styrenics / Order volume exceeds available supply / Notations stable, but pointing upward / Demand normal to good

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of February: Prices rise significantly / Some sources sold out / Heavy demand sees buyers fighting for materials / Further increases on the horizon

Standard thermoplastics at the end of January: Purchasing boom rolls over from December / Order books for polyolefins close early / No uniform picture / Price hikes likely in February

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of January: Supply of some polymers is tight / Demand livens up / Significant price increases announced for the second half of the month

Standard thermoplastics in December: All notations lighter / PVC fares better than most polymers / Plentiful supplies exert pressure on prices / Suspenseful start to the New Year expected

Standard thermoplastics in November: PVC rises again / PP still stable / PE softer / PS and EPS significantly lower / Producers will find it difficult to hold current price levels in December

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of December / PVC with rollover / PE, PS and EPS lose considerable ground / PP also weak / Inventories high and demand slack

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of November: Supply situation begins to normalise / PVC up again / Polyolefins stabilise at high level / PS and EPS tend slightly downward

Standard thermoplastics in October: Polyolefin notations rise by a historic amount / PVC adds around EUR 100/t / PS and EPS rise more moderately / Announcements of further price increases

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of October: Markets tighter due to supply bottlenecks / Exorbitant price increases now the rule rather than the exception / No relaxation yet in sight

Standard thermoplastics in September: Tight supply drives up prices for all commodities / Priority for converters is to secure supplies rather than negotiate on prices / Increases for October

Standard thermoplastics beginning of September: Prices rocket upwards / Severe shortages in supply for commodities in western Europe / Polyolefins face more pressure than PVC, PS or EPS

Standard thermoplastics in August: Substantial increase seen for all materials / Short inventories fuel upward price spiral / Sellers will go for further increases in September / Import threat looms