Polymer Prices World Regions North America

North America October 2023: Rollovers predominate, only PP and PS move up / Surplus in nearly all segments / End of strike in auto industry unlikely to affect prices / Reductions expected in November / Further uncertainty due to Middle East conflict

North America September 2023: Mixed picture for standards / Forces majeures remain for PE, PP / Car industry strike hurts ordering / Price cuts likely in October

North America August 2023: Prices vary / Firmer styrene costs prop up PS / Hurricane Idalia has no effect on prices so far / Extent of damage to polymer production not yet clear / September likely to be generally weaker

North America July 2023: Contracts roll over or fall further / Oversupply of engineering thermoplastics / Feedstock prices rise / Styrene increases significantly / No trend turnaround in sight

North America June 2023: Weak market fundamentals and falling feedstock prices depress polymer markets / Producers cut back capacities

North America May 2023: Low prices in all segments except PS / Surplus with most types / Recovery in construction and automotive without an effect on prices / Weak start to the summer season

North America April 2023: Widespread reductions despite a few plant outages / Feedstock prices softer / Revival in demand still on hold / May prices expected to be lower across the board

North America March 2023: Mixed price development despite subdued demand / Propylene, PP continue upward trend, PA 6 loses further ground / April expected to be generally weak

North America February 2023: Feedstocks drive prices up for polypropylene and polystyrene / PVC rises due to exports / Tendency for surplus in all segments / March expected to be weak

North America January 2023: Prices largely unchanged or lower / Engineering materials slump / Tornado has little impact on prices / Rebound unlikely in February

North America December 2022: Widespread reductions / Good availability coincides with disinclination to buy / The many short-term production outages due to winter storms have little effect on prices / Weak start to the year

North America November 2022: General market weakness pushes most prices down / Only PE, PS, engineering thermoplastics see occasional rollover / Downward pressure to remain until end of year

North America October 2022: Weak demand, high stock levels put prices under pressure / Only PE moves sideways / Rising interest rates depress consumer behaviour / Further price reductions expected in November

North America September 2022: Price declines for feedstocks, base polymers, compounds / Cooler economy, rising interest rates slow purchasing / More reductions in October

North America August 2022: Polymer prices plummet / Trend turnaround for PS, PA 6 / Falling feedstock costs, weak market base to push prices lower

North America July 2022: Most prices decline, but styrene-based thermoplastics see major hikes / Weak demand, full inventories / Benzene market calmer / Price reductions on the cards for August

North America June 2022: Many large price reductions, except for styrene-based plastics / Demand slows in view of rising prices and interest rates / Poor prospects for upcoming months

North America May 2022: PE, PVC move sideways as PP nosedives / Precarious time for styrene drives up PS, PA 6 / Consumer demand slumps on high inflation / June expected mostly weaker

North America April 2022: Reports of significant increases except for polyolefins / Polyamides in particular are picking up / Inflation and rising interest rates are likely to put pressure on demand / Further inflation in May

North America March 2022: Growing production costs raise prices / Tensions high / War, logistics and manufacturing issues set to fuel April hikes

North America February 2022: Prices in all segments roll over or rise / Situation dominated by logistical problems, shortages of additives and the war / Wide-ranging hikes expected in March

North America January 2022: Rollover predominates / Shortage of additives is a problem for compounders / Start of the maintenance season / February likely to see widespread price increases

North America December 2021: Rollovers reign / Further reductions for polyolefins / Shortages of compounds expected to lead to January hikes for engineering thermoplastics

North America November 2021: Significant reductions with polyolefins / PVC and engineering thermoplastics continue to rise / Shortages with compound materials / Mixed picture for December

North America October 2021: Polyolefin markets calmer / PVC unaffected by events in Europe / Engineering thermoplastics move sideways, but situation remains tense