Polymer Prices World Regions

Russia February 2015: Little market activity / Slight rises for most polymers / Only HDPE blow moulding, EPS and homo PP pointing down / Volatile exchange rate could lead to additional increases in March

China Standard Thermoplastics February 2015: Feedstock prices rebound / Following pre-holiday dip, polymer notations rise as processors return to work / Little activity as a result of Chinese New Year holidays / Yuan continues to strengthen

China Engineering Thermoplastics January 2015: Feedstock costs continue their downward slide / Import prices remain depressed / Polymer prices mostly down / Processors preparing for Chinese New Year holidays

North America January 2015: Notations continue to slide / Feedstock declines impact developments across the entire chain / PP and PS plummet / Engineering thermoplastics follow benzene's downtrend

China Standard Thermoplastics January 2015: C2, SM import quotes continue to slide / C3 import prices rebound / Domestic polymer notations tumble amid rising inventories / February business overshadowed by Chinese New Year mass transit

Russia January 2015: Slow month sees slight rises in most polymer notations / Many plants idled during national holidays / Currency exchange rate continues to wreak havoc / February likely to see further increases

Global oil price slide takes petrochemical chains down with it / Polymer notations plummet across the world / Decline picking up speed / Weak euro brakes downturn somewhat

China Engineering Thermoplastics December 2014: Feedstock costs remain low / Import prices fall / Polymers trending down / January demand expected to be in line with expectations

North America December 2014: Polyethylene recedes again / Polypropylene in free fall / PS and PVC still weak / Engineering thermoplastics continue to crumble / Downward trend in January, too

Russia December 2014: Economic crisis drives up polymer notations / Volatile exchange rate propels cost of imported materials to unaffordable heights / PET rises by almost 20% / Future outlook uncertain

China Standard Thermoplastics December 2014: Feedstock import quotes plunge / C2, C3, SM at new lows / Polymer decline continues / Domestic players attempt to raise prices / Processors mull inventory build-up ahead of lunar new year

China Engineering Thermoplastics November 2014: All feedstock costs down / Some starter materials hit lows not seen in years / Import prices soft / PC stabilises following BPA turnaround / MMA declines put a brake on PMMA hikes

North America November 2014: Notations erode across a broad front / Declining feedstock costs take polymers down / Additional significant corrections expected in December and January

Russia November 2014: Currency effect drives euro notations down / Rouble prices a mixed bag / HDPE injection moulding grades tight and expensive / PP and PET firmer / PVC flagging

China Standard Thermoplastics November 2014: Feedstock import quotes continue in free fall / C2, C3, SM at lows not seen in years / Polymer producers worried about unabated price declines / Processors in holding pattern and keeping inventories low

China Engineering Thermoplastics October 2014: All feedstock costs down / PC, PMMA firm / All other polymer prices soft / Consumption on normal level / November likely to see little change

North America October 2014: Olefin chains have reached their peak / Decline in global oil price pressures US notations / PE exports becoming more difficult / Aromatic derivatives already pointing down

China Standard Thermoplastics October 2014: All feedstock import quotes down / Styrene, propylene hit new lows / Polymers follow feedstock trend / Demand in line with the season

Russia October 2014: Rouble continues to decline / Maintenance cycle mostly over / LDPE now pointing down / Volatile exchange rate could see rises for PS and PET / Other polymers likely to decline in November

Rise in North American polymer grade propylene contract opens arbitrage window

North America September 2014: Ethylene drives up PE and PVC / PP still stable but trending higher / Relaxation on the aromatics front takes PS down / Engineering thermoplastics under pressure

China Engineering Thermoplastics September 2014: Most feedstock costs fall / Butadiene, BPA and MMA prices increase / PC and PMMA notations rise / Import prices stable to soft with individual price hikes / Consumption normal for September

Russia September 2014: LDPE and HDPE tight and expensive / Euro notations feel currency effect as rouble continues to lose in value / PP and PVC pointing down / PS and PET roll over / Little change expected in October

China Standard Thermoplastics September 2014: Ethylene import quotes firm, while styrene and propylene trend soft / Polymer prices mostly down / National PE and PP inventories continue to increase / Notations could rise slightly in October

China Engineering Thermoplastics August 2014: Feedstock costs nosedive / BPA rise / Prices of Engineering Thermoplastics steady with individual hikes / Consumption ranging between normal and seasonal low with different types