Polymer Prices Engineering Thermoplastics

Engineering Thermoplastics in May 2009: Prices start to firm / ABS and PP up slightly / Other polymers capped / Minor price wars at lower end / Demand shows signs of life / Outlook mainly stable

Engineering Thermoplastics in April 2009: A mixed picture / ABS firmer again / PC, PA 6 and PP compounds mainly stable / POM, PBT and PMMA down / PA 6.6 falls sharply / Upswing in China brings hope of stabilisation

Engineering Thermoplastics in March 2009: PP compounds firmer / ABS bottoms out / PC, PA, PBT, POM and PMMA down slightly / Demand weak / Little stimulus expected in Q2 / Will producers take back autumn price increases?

Engineering Thermoplastics in February 2009: PP bottoms out / ABS and PC in aftershock / PA begins to slide / PBT, POM and PMMA also down / Automotive crisis dominates / Little light on the horizon for March

Engineering Thermoplastics in January 2009: ABS and PP compounds in free fall / PC and POM plummet by over EUR 100 t/y / Resistance for PA and PBT / PMMA still firm / Slack demand / Further decline likely

Engineering Thermoplastics in December 2008: Downswing rolls over into this market, too / Notations for almost all polymers lower / Only PMMA holds up / More price wars expected in Q1

Engineering Thermoplastics in November 2008: Sluggish demand puts a sudden end to high prices / Imports exert intense pressure on ABS / Softening tendency for all standard grades

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Engineering thermoplastics in October 2008: Price movements paralysed by order cancellations / Automotive segment applies the brakes / C3-linked PP declines / Supply good / Softer prices likely despite production cutbacks

Engineering Thermoplastics in September 2008: Price rises as Q3 ends / Most remaining calls for hikes still in place / Demand shrinks / Stability is likely in October

Engineering Thermoplastics in August 2008: Hikes at the higher end widen the price range / Imports pressure PBT and POM / Demand turns downward at mid-month / Supply situation will dictate developments

Engineering Thermoplastics in July 2008: Summer holiday season puts a damper on steep hikes / Some forward movement for PC, ABS and PA 6 / Upward pressure remains / Demand steers price movements

Engineering Thermoplastics in June 2008: Q2 ends on a stable footing / Absence of imports fuels ABS / Demand weakness in southern Europe lengthens supplies in the north / Higher feedstocks propel PA, PBT and POM

Engineering Thermoplastics in May 2008: Battle for market share puts downward pressure on notations / Strong demand despite short production month / Outlook for end of Q2 mostly stable / Cost explosion could fuel polymer hikes in Q3

Engineering Thermoplastics in April 2008: Q2 starts with minor corrections / ABS, PA and POM move up / PMMA and PP stable / PC down slightly, PBT loses more / Renewed calls for increases / PP under pressure

Engineering thermoplastics at the end of March 2008: Prices mostly stable as Q1 ends / Only minimal movements in PC, PA, PBT and POM / Producers try for hikes, despite declines in feedstock costs

Engineering thermoplastics at the end of February 2008: Prices predominantly firm / Demand below expectations / PC slips again / PMMA up / C3 hike passed on in bulk PP business / Producers still seeking rises across the board

Engineering thermoplastics at the end of January 2008: PA 6.6 and PBT move up / End of rock-bottom notations for POM, PMMA and PP compounds / ABS, PC and PA 6 still stable / Supply normal / Demand slow to recover / Conditions favourable for price hikes

Engineering thermoplastics at the end of December 2007: Increases not yet accepted / ABS and PC down again / Supply mostly well-balanced / Only POM tight / Methanol at record high / Significant hikes on the table / Latest transactions higher

Engineering thermoplastics at the end of November: Calls for increases mostly on hold / Imports pressure lower end of the ABS, PC and PBT scales / Supply mainly well-balanced / Producers intend to push through significant rises in 2008

Engineering thermoplastics at the end of October 2007: Calls for hikes unheeded / Supply mainly stable / K 2007 and German bank holiday reduce demand / Prospects for large Q4 increases uncertain

Engineering thermoplastics at the end of September 2007: Q3 closes with stable prices / PA 6 and POM generally tight / Rising feedstock prices will fuel calls for stiff resins rises in Q4

Engineering thermoplastics at the end of August: All still calm on the price front / Supply adequate but mixed picture with POM / Automotive continues to drive demand / Few announcements of price hikes

Engineering thermoplastics at the end of July 2007: Mostly calm on the price front at the start of the second half-year / Only minor adjustments / Falling costs improve margins / Stable demand / PA 6 tight

Engineering thermoplastics at the end of June 2007: Predominantly stable / ABS, PC and PP compounds up slightly / Good capacity use / Some feedstocks short / Longer delivery times / Moderate price hikes planned