Standard Thermoplastics Trend June 2018: Higher feedstock costs drive up all polymer notations / Price speculation dampens demand / Producers not prepared to make further concessions

Polyethylene May 2018: Many long bank holiday weekends dampen price dynamic / Producers' hopes of recouping cost increases mostly prove unrealistic / Rising oil prices drive up C2 reference for June / Price hikes unavoidable

Styrenics May 2018: Prices continue to decline / Only slight discounts on ABS / Holidays dampen demand / Price trend reversal likely in June following uptrend for styrene

Polypropylene May 2018: Hikes below cost rise / Bank holiday lull brakes producer announcements / Costs will drive prices higher in June

PVC May 2018: Good supply prevents full cost recovery for base grades and compounds / Rollovers predominate / Pastes higher on solid demand / Upward movement expected in June due to sharp price increase for ethylene

PET May 2018: Things go haywire / Spot prices skyrocketing / Freely negotiated trade dries up / Imports lacking / Restrictions in Europe / Free contracts moving upwards / Price explosion continues

Standard Thermoplastics Trend May 2018: PE notations present non-uniform picture / PP somewhat firmer / Price cuts for styrenics / Long holiday weekends slow down demand / Problems with logistics

Polyethylene April 2018: Most attempts to pass on higher costs fail / Pipe grades are exception / Film segment characterised by surplus / Producers likely to call for higher increases in May due to rise in C2 reference

Polypropylene April 2018: Most producers unable to pass on cost rise / Soft demand at Easter / Weakness in demand could persist in May / C3 surge will boost polymer

Styrenics April 2018: Significant decrease of SM ends uptrend / Three-digit reductions on PS and EPS / Processors reluctant to order / Further reductions likely in May

PET April 2018: Notations rising sharply / Supply restrictions for PTA hampering supply / Imports still thin on the ground / Hot weather also driving demand / Further increases possible in May

PVC April 2018: For base grades and compounds, pro-rata cost increases were passed on in most cases / Situation for additives has calmed / Pastes buoyed by good demand / Continued uptrend expected in May

Standard Trend April 2018: PE and styrenics under pressure / PP, PVC and EVA producers pass on part of higher costs / Expectations of revival in demand during the month

Polyethylene March 2018: Producers pass on most of cost reduction / First LLDPE imports from US put pressure on prices / Slight uptrend likely in April due to rise in ethylene reference

Polypropylene March 2018: Cost relief broadly passed on / Sufficient supply / Converters' buying tactics shred producers' margins / Firm rollover likely in April

Styrenics March 2018: Increased SM costs further drive up prices / New all-time high for EPS / Price expectations limit demand / Significant reductions expected for April

PET March 2018: Moderate improvements possible in producer margins / Asian exports heading more towards North America / Few offers in Europe / First season peak now over / Balanced momentum in April

PVC March 2018: Marginal declines in base grades and rigid compounds / High price of plasticiser pushes up plasticised compounds / Pastes stay at same level / Slight upward trend in April

Standard Thermoplastics Trend March 2018: LDPE under price pressure / Maintenance turnarounds and scarce imports support other polyolefins / Higher styrene reference drives up PS and EPS / Buyers hold back in hope for price cuts in Q2

Polyethylene February 2018: Producers mostly succeed in passing on cost increases / High stock levels reduce customers' need to buy / Falling costs create space for price cuts in March