Plastics Information Europe - up-to-date and reliable information about the plastics industry

In the Spotlight

Takeaways from PRSE Day 1: Drastic loss of recycling capacity / EU commissioner promises support / Pressure on industry increases

— By Eric Culp —The capacity losses hitting Europe’s plastics recycling sector remained front and centre at the 10th instalment of the ongoing PRSE exhibition in Amsterdam, with both an EU commissioner and the head of the industry highlighting concerns facing companies in the sector. Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy, told... (05.05.2026)

RADICI / DOMO EM

Rumours confirmed: US financial investor Lone Star acquires and merges the two PA producers

— By PIE staff — Only a few days after initial reports began circulating in the market, official confirmation has now followed; namely, US financial investor Lone Star Funds is to acquire not only European polyamide manufacturer Radici, but also the engineered materials segment of Domo Chemicals . Both... (12:14)

WESTLAKE VINNOLIT

PVC manufacturer plans to take over insolvent Vynova Wilhelmshaven

— By PIE staff — Westlake Vinnolit, the German subsidiary of plastics manufacturer Westlake, plans to take over the business operations and all approximately 350 employees of the insolvent Vynova Wilhelmshaven, according to an announcement by the provisional insolvency administrator Christian Kaufmann of... (06:00)

EUROPEAN CAR MARKET

US to impose 25% tariffs on EU car imports, escalating trade tensions

— By PIE staff — At a press conference at the White House on 1 May, US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the European Union, marking a renewed escalation in transatlantic trade tensions and putting pressure on European automakers. According to... (06:00)

BASF

Q1 sales down 3%, but volumes grow / Petchem major sees strong Q2 prospects / Middle East crisis boosts pricing power and upside potential

— By Marilyn Gerlach — Despite the ongoing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, German chemical giant BASF struck an optimistic stance on its second quarter outlook, saying the Middle East crisis has given it pricing power and more opportunities than risks. Speaking to analysts during a telephone conference... (04.05.2026)

VYNOVA

Belgian producer lifts force majeure on PVC supply from key European sites

— By PIE staff — European PVC producer Vynova has lifted its force majeure on polyvinyl chloride supplies from its sites in Mazingarbe, France, and Wilhelmshaven, Germany, effective immediately, the company said in a customer letter dated 4 May. It would seem the decision follows the apparent resolution of... (04.05.2026)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

'This is not a replacement for humans – it is a reinforcement' / Column on AI as a catalyst for plastics processing – industry consultant Arno Rogalla

Artificial intelligence has arrived in the plastics industry – not as science fiction, but as a tool. And as with any tool, it is not its existence but how it is used that determines success or failure. The question is therefore not whether AI will transform the industry, but how quickly companies adapt to... (04.05.2026)

Plastic Fantastic

Iranian AI “Lego” videos captivate the net / Plastic brickmaker steers clear of comment — By Dede Williams — Moving out of its quiet playroom corner, Danish toymaker Lego has recently registered rising demand from adult hobbyists eager to recreate their favourite monuments ... (01.05.2026)

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Capacity database

Up-to-date online database
Products: Monomers and polymers
Capacities: Present and future
Availabilities: present, planned and historical
Future plans: new facilities, forecasts, growth rates, etc.
Producers: Product portfolio, activities, co-operations, joint ventures, etc.

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Spot Price Monitor

Weekly updated spot prices
The pricing of feedstocks, PE and PP spot material in Europe is becoming increasingly important for the market.

We offer:

Price table of all feedstocks and polymers with weekly reference prices
Detail page incl. information on change, range of precursor price, price trend, overview chart, etc.

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PDS – Price Delivery Solution

With the Price Delivery Solution (PDS), we offer an automatic API-supported solution for the delivery of over 170 trade types.

Individual price information directly via the API link
Modular pricing
Low costs

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Middle East Conflict

The Iran war and its consequences for the plastics industry

Tensions in the Middle East have reached a new peak: following the recent attacks by Israel and the US on Iran, the geopolitical situation continues to escalate. Energy prices, raw material availability and logistics flows are sensitive to the escalation in this key region.

PIE – Plastics Information Europe analyses the scenarios that are now conceivable and how they could affect energy and raw material markets, supply chains and competitive structures in Europe.

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Latest News

POLYMER PRICES Styrenics April: Premiums higher than ever before / Further price increases expected for May	09:24
POLYMER PRICES Feedstocks April/May	06:00
POLYMER PRICES Composites/GRP April: Price rises continue for all grades; triple-digit hikes in some cases / Converters reluctant to purchase	04.05.2026
POLYMER PRICES Styrene May: Contract reaches four-year high	04.05.2026
POLYMER PRICES Engineering thermoplastics April: Sellers' market drives prices higher / Converters under risk of running out of money / Difficulties expected to continue in May	04.05.2026
POLYMER PRICES Propylene May: Quotations continue to trend higher	04.05.2026
POLYMER PRICES Ethylene May: Contract rises to all-time high	04.05.2026
LOGOPLASTE US private equity firms reportedly set to acquire Portuguese packaging manufacturer	04.05.2026
PLASTIC PACKAGING European standard defines design-for-recycling requirements / Basis for future PPWR criteria	04.05.2026

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Price Reports and Announcements

POLYMER PRICES Styrenics April: Premiums higher than ever before / Further price increases expected for May	09:24
POLYMER PRICES Feedstocks April/May	05.05.2026
POLYMER PRICES Composites/GRP April: Price rises continue for all grades; triple-digit hikes in some cases / Converters reluctant to purchase	04.05.2026
POLYMER PRICES Styrene May: Contract reaches four-year high	04.05.2026
POLYMER PRICES Engineering thermoplastics April: Sellers' market drives prices higher / Converters under risk of running out of money / Difficulties expected to continue in May	04.05.2026
POLYMER PRICES Propylene May: Quotations continue to trend higher	04.05.2026
POLYMER PRICES Ethylene May: Contract rises to all-time high	04.05.2026
POLYMER PRICES Benzene May: Pace of increase for contract slows	30.04.2026
POLYMER PRICES Polyethylene April: Prices go through the roof / Tight supply situation and advance purchasing / Further increases expected in May	30.04.2026
POLYMER PRICES Polypropylene April: Tight supply persists / Imports not expected to resume until June / Only packaging sector able to keep volumes stable / Further significant markups in May considered certain	30.04.2026

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Readers' Choice

FORCES MAJEURES French association Elipso accuses polymer producers of speculative price hikes amid Middle East crisis	27.04.2026
PETROCHEMICALS South Korea, Japan move to government support for polymer supply chains amid Middle East crisis	23.04.2026
DOMO CHEMICALS Indications of a merger with Radici's operations by Lone Star / US fund acquires former Solvay brand Technyl	29.04.2026
LOGISTICS European ports brace for tougher 2026 due to geopolitical disruptions, rerouted trade	24.04.2026
EUROPEAN ECONOMY War sours moods / German business morale worst since 2020 / Processors voice less optimism / Eurozone PMIs tumble	24.04.2026
INEOS Petchem group announces new distribution partners for PE, PP in Europe	30.04.2026
KINGFA Chinese compounder again delays start-up in Poland / Export push raises competitive pressure in Europe	28.04.2026
DOW Revenue, earnings remain under pressure in Q1 / Outgoing CEO Fitterling expects margins to improve soon	27.04.2026