Polymer Prices World Regions

North America March 2017: Prices rally in a big way / Increases across the board / PP reaches turnaround point / Other commodities also seem to have peaked / Engineering thermoplastics still rising

North America February 2017: Widespread price rally also hits North American markets / Significant rises across the board / Styrenics and polyamides climb particularly steeply

Russia February 2017: Significant rise in notations for PS and LDPE / PVC and PET stagnating / Continued price erosion for PE-HD and PP / Trends remain unchanged into March

Russia January 2017: Market still largely in hibernation / Notations slowly crumbling / Only PVC rises slightly due to lack of imports / Little recognisable stimulus for change in February

North America January 2017: PE and PVC remain stable / PP notations rocket in major turnaround / PS and ABS also take off / Plenty of movement with polyamides / Strong upward trend in February

China Engineering Thermoplastics January 2017: Major feedstock costs rise further on crude / Butadiene prices hit four-and-a-half-year high / Overall demand slows before Chinese New Year / Inventories at predicted levels / Positive outlook for February

China Standard Thermoplastics January 2017: Ethylene and styrene rise, propylene softens / Polymer prices fall due to Chinese New Year, but PS remains firm / PE and PP inventories adequate / Overall consumption normal / Outlook for February fair

North America December 2016: Polyolefins notations slide once again / Cost rise at turn of the year raises pressure / Radical turnaround for propylene chain / Aromatics also rising steeply

China Engineering Thermoplastics December 2016: Feedstock import quotes soar / Butadiene goes through the roof / Domestic notations also rise / Polymer notations follow suit / Demand satisfactory amid tight inventories

China Standard Thermoplastics December 2016: Steep rise for domestic styrene and propylene / All polymers aside from LDPE and PVC point up / HDPE availability tight / Demand satisfactory / Outlook seasonally normal

Russia December 2016: Few changes in overall price structure / Business slows down towards end of the year / LDPE, PVC and PET producers planning price campaigns / January outlook dominated by holidays

China Engineering Thermoplastics November 2016: Benzene, SM and caprolactam import quotes rise while butadiene, BPA and PX hold stable / All polymers point up / Particularly steep hikes for ABS, PC and PA / Demand satisfactory

North America November 2016: Standard thermoplastics notations falling / Peak PE prices capped / PP follows propylene's freefall / PVC and PS also sliding / Engineering thermoplastics mostly stable

China Standard Thermoplastics November 2016: Feedstock import prices rise with styrene leading the hikes / Domestic PE and PP prices peak before receding at month end / PS firm / Outlook for December cautiously optimistic

Russia November 2016: Price cuts dominate the picture for most standard plastics / Only PS notations rise significantly / High PVC prices crumble more noticeably / HDPE now in surplus

North America October 2016: Few changes in overall price situation / Solely PS able to gain some ground following feedstock surge / Slight downward correction for PP / With end of year approaching, risk of hikes abates

China Engineering Thermoplastics October 2016: Most feedstock import quotes rise / Butadiene soars to new heights / ABS and PC continue to trend up, while PA takes a tumble / Demand in line with expectations / Outlook for November fair

China Standard Thermoplastics October 2016: Ethylene and propylene import prices down, while styrene points up / Both local and imported polymer prices higher / Inventories of some items slightly short / Strong demand

Russia October 2016: LDPE and PP buck the general downward trend / Ufaorgsintez ownership change partially responsible for gains / PVC takes a nosedive / November outlook for PET a mixed bag

China Engineering Thermoplastics September 2016: Most feedstock import quotes down / Imported butadiene soars to two-year high / Polymer prices firm to rising / Domestic PA still tight / Demand low / Processors cautiously optimistic for October

North America September 2016: Upward momentum across many segments / Rising feedstocks push up polyolefins and PS / Engineering thermoplastics producers still under pressure

China Standard Thermoplastics September 2016: Ethylene, styrene import quotes slide / Propylene holds firm / Polymer import quotes soft / Local product sliding / Only LDPE and PVC defy the downtrend

Russia September 2016: Poor demand results in across-the-board slide / HDPE and PS fall to yearly low / Slight dip for PP / End of main processing season responsible for PVC and PET declines

North America August 2016: PE still stagnates / PP shows turnaround / Propylene hike drives up prices / PVC stable / Inconsistent PS updraught / PA 6 increases significantly / Markets otherwise mostly steady

China Engineering Thermoplastics August 2016: Tight supplies push up benzene and butadiene costs / PC and PA increase sharply / Overall consumption satisfactory / Domestically produced PA supplies become short / September outlook fair