PET June 2008: Upswing at end of Q2 / Lower end buyers brought into line / Higher feedstocks and the need to restore margins drive notations upward

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of June 2008: Cost explosion in oil and derivatives makes an impact / PE climbs strongly due to stockpiling / PP does about-turn to move up / PVC relatively weak / PS and EPS take off

PET May 2008: Prices slightly higher / Long sought margin improvements begin to materialise / Higher feedstocks and firming demand could add further upward momentum in June

Standard Thermoplastics in May 2008: Polyolefins weaken further / Only EVA up slightly / PVC slips very slightly / Styrenics margins down / High cost of naphtha fuels producer price drive

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of May 2008: Downwind has slackened / Oversupply gradually draining away / Demand mostly normal / Calls for increases either stabilise or drive prices up

Standard Thermoplastics in April 2008: Most notations point downward / Oversupply begins to bite / Demand mostly normal / “Short” business month could limit price hikes in May

PET April 2008: Market stabilises / Pressure from feedstock side / May contract for MEG nosedives / Demand will decide

Standard thermoplastics in April 2008: Polyolefins flagging / Upturn for PVC / PS down but margins improve / EPS in rollover / Weather dampens seasonal demand / Plant outages have little effect / April still has potential for upswing

Standard thermoplastics in March 2008: Market lacks direction / PE upswing brought to a halt / PP crumbles / PVC stable / PS moves up but margins erode / Slight recovery for EPS / Hopes for strong April

PET March 2008: Notations bottom out / Firming at month's end / Market turnaround in April?

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of March 2008: Turnaround or correction? / Most producers reduce planned hikes / Tendency to oversupply starts to pressure polyolefins / PVC largely stable / Monomer rise influences PS and EPS

Standard thermoplastics in February 2008: Buyers' resistance and special offers block hefty hikes for polyolefins / PVC up slightly, PS and EPS significantly higher / PP long / EPS tight / Naphtha surge fuels polymer upswing

PET February 2008: Prices lose some ground / Globally weak demand leaves its mark / Margins still soft / Outlook continues subdued

Standard thermoplastics at the beginning of February 2008: Slow ordering keeps producer price increases in check / Polyolefins catch up with monomer rises / PVC slightly, PS and EPS significantly higher / Producers' inventories start to swell

Standard thermoplastics in January 2008: Price explosion for polyolefins / PVC stable / Styrenics also up / PE just balanced / Cracker situation unstable / Speculative trading brakes PP / PS tightening? / Further hefty hikes on the table