Polymer Prices Engineering Thermoplastics

Engineering Thermoplastics March 2013: Rollover dominates / ABS and PA 6 weaken / POM slips amid mounting pressure from copolymer imports / PP lifted by higher C3 window / All signs point to rises in April

Engineering Thermoplastics in February 2013: Distribution market sheds more feathers / Supply restrictions meet with weak demand / Direct business starts to pick up / All signs point to hikes in March

Engineering Thermoplastics in January 2013: New year begins on a subdued note / Despite expensive benzene, ABS and PC barely move / PA, POM and PMMA prices down / Little risk of hikes, except for PP

Engineering Thermoplastics in December 2012: Rollover dominates / Occasional signs of weakness / Supply suffices to meet sluggish demand / Rising benzene notations increasingly make themselves felt / Fresh calls for price hikes for ABS and PC

Engineering Thermoplastics in November 2012: Subdued demand depresses notations / Adequate supply despite production cutbacks / Rising imports of standard grades / Little change expected for December

Engineering Thermoplastics in October 2012: All markets calm / Costs and prices stay put at high level / Depressed demand / Moderate price pressure until year-end

Engineering Thermoplastics in September 2012: ABS and PP pay tribute to remaining cost increases / Most other materials roll over / Polyamides start to crumble / Market hit by automotive downturn

Engineering thermoplastics in August 2012: Commodity ABS and PP compounds react to higher feedstock prices / Higher-grade materials mostly roll over / Costs continue to rise / Hopes that new VW Golf 7 will stimulate demand

Engineering Thermoplastics in July 2012: ABS, PA and PP feel the effect of June's feedstock slide / PC, PBT and POM stable / PMMA up slightly / Back pressure generated by reversal of feedstock notations / August still stable

Engineering Thermoplastics in June 2012: ABS and PP compounds hit by downturn in the standard sector / Butadiene nosedive hits PA 6.6 / Benzene goes against the flow, driving PC up / Other types stable / Surplus tendency / Prices under pressure in July

Engineering Thermoplastics in May 2012: Rising benzene pushes PA 6, PBT, POM and PMMA higher / Most other types stable / Ordering still very sluggish / Aromatic derivatives could well move up again in June

Engineering Thermoplastics in April 2012: PC, PA 6 and PBT hit by Q2 price hikes / POM and PMMA in rollover / PP compounds rise slightly / Business surprisingly slack / Surplus tendencies

Engineering Thermoplastics in March 2012: More grades succumb to upward price trend / Output remains tight / Demand starts to soften / April price hikes could fall short of producers' expectations

Engineering Thermoplastics in February 2012: Situation relatively calm / Long-term agreements ease pressure / ABS and PP compound prices on the rise / PA and PBT surging / Rate of price increases likely to quicken

Engineering Thermoplastics in January 2012: Rollover predominates / Initial increases for ABS, PA 6 and PP / Restocking / Automotive and E&E sectors take off / Feedstocks rise by triple digits

Engineering Thermoplastics in December 2011: Picture dominated by moderate falls / Production cutbacks coincide with subdued end-of-year demand / Costs likely to rise in January / Benzene takes a great leap

Engineering Thermoplastics in November 2011: Prices down but rate of decline slows / Only POM suffers triple-digit decrease / More moderate reductions for ABS, PC, PA and PMMA / PBT remains firm / Lacklustre demand / Stability likely at year-end

Engineering Thermoplastics in October 2011: Situation at last begins to ease / ABS, PC and PA take a dive as costs of benzene and butadiene plummet / Trend till year-end is "down, but under control"

Engineering thermoplastics in September 2011: Initial weaknesses appear / ABS, PC, PA and PP compounds begin to crumble / So far the overall picture still remains one of stability / Benzene and butadiene at last decline

Engineering thermoplastics in August 2011: ABS and PBT rise despite holiday lull / Monomer reduction prompts fall in PP compounds / Bottlenecks ease as demand declines / Automotive still lively / Risks of price increases remain

Engineering Thermoplastics in July 2011: Prices stable at a high level / ABS, PC and PP respond to the lower cost basis / Supply adequate / Holiday period dampens demand / Stability likely

Engineering Thermoplastics in June 2011: Many grades move up again / ABS, polyamides and PBT are hit particularly hard / Butadiene shortage is the driving factor / Demand significantly weaker / Upward pressure should ease in July

Engineering Thermoplastics in May 2011: Butadiene price explosion triggers triple-digit rise for ABS / Higher costs for PA 6, PMMA and PP / Limited feedstock supplies / High stock levels dampen ordering activity / Calls for fresh increases

Engineering Thermoplastics in April 2011: Upswing slows down slightly / PBT, POM and PMMA climb by nearly EUR 100/t / Q2 agreements tighten lower price levels / Price hikes likely again in May

Engineering Thermoplastics in March 2011: Considerable increases at the end of Q1 / Only POM remains stable / Feedstock costs drop down a notch / Supply tight / Significant rises expected for quarterly agreements