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In the Spotlight

China engineering thermoplastics February: Rising feedstock costs lift most prices / Spring Festival noticeably dampens demand / Iran conflict drives up crude oil prices / Average increases of up to 25% expected in March

— By Cecilia Zhang & Alfred Wong — Prices for most engineering thermoplastics sold on the Chinese market trended higher in February, largely supported by rising feedstock costs. Average quotations for key grades moved up across several segments, with local PC prices rising sharply amid higher phenol and bisphenol-A costs, while PA 6 and PA 6.6 also strengthened on the back of higher caprolactam and... (17.03.2026)

MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT

German industry association urges plastics converters to reject unjustified force majeure notifications / Speaks of involving antitrust authorities

— By PIE staff — German plastics processing industry association GKV has warned plastics producers in clear terms against attempting to impose “drastic price hikes” on converters through unjustified force majeure claims. “Raw material prices must not be inflated artificially,” said GKV managing... (16.03.2026)

CHINA

State of emergency: Middle East conflict shakes petrochemicals sector / High import dependence

— By PIE staff — Since the outbreak of the war in the Middle East on 28 February – with a provisional peak when Iran on 2 March declared that it had taken control of the Strait of Hormuz – the global energy and petrochemical industries have been experiencing unprecedented disruption. China – the world’s... (16.03.2026)

EU POLICY

Commission adopts ‘Made in Europe' proposal / Move aims to restore region's competitiveness, boost decarbonisation / Coalition launches circular campaign

— By Elaine Burridge — After many delays and revisions, on 4 March 2026, the European Commission finally published proposed measures to increase demand for low-carbon, EU-made technologies and products. It said the Industrial Accelarator Act responds to the urgent need to accelerate industrial... (16.03.2026)

POLYMER PRICE FORECASTS

Iran war boosts C2, C3 prices

— By PIE Price Team — The current PIE Polymer Price Forecast, based on a best-case scenario where the military conflict in the Middle East remains limited in duration, anticipates that direct fighting will last some four to six weeks, to be followed by a multi-week period for repairing damaged... (13.03.2026)

POLYMER PRICES

China standard thermoplastics February: Prices firm except for polyethylene / Demand remains weak during holidays / Seasonal recovery and Middle East conflict to drive up prices in March

— By Alfred Wong — The monthly average prices of most standard thermoplastics reported on the Chinese market in February increased compared with the previous month, with the exception of polyethylene, which remained unchanged. The price drivers varied across products. PVC and polystyrene prices were mainly... (13.03.2026)

SABIC

Resin maker changes C2/C3 formula-based contracts / Price hikes for PE, PP

— By PIE Staff — Here’s something the plastics industry hasn't seen in a long time: European subsidiaries of Saudi petrochemical major Sabic have announced revisions to their C2/C3 formula-based supply contracts, citing rising energy prices and increased production costs. Effective retroactively to 5... (12.03.2026)

Plastic Fantastic

Plastic golf tees get their cards marked — By PIE correspondent — A golf club in the Welsh capital Cardiff is the latest of many in the UK to ban plastic tees in a drive to make that most ancient of sports more environmentally ... (13.03.2026)

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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

LANXESS Sale of Envalior stake to financial investor Advent suspended	12:55
VERSALIS Eni's petrochemicals business still in the red / Iran war could ease margin pressure	12:52
EMS Sharp price increases set for polyamides	11:38
POLYMER PRICES Standard recyclate March: Recyclers raise prices slightly due to Iran war / Demand increases on seasonal factors / Recycling market a plaything for speculators?	11:02
PLASTICS RECYCLING GERMANY Industry caught between challenges, willingness to invest and wait-and-see approach: 'We are in a paradoxical situation' / IK Circular Packaging Days 2026	06:00
UKRAINE Customs Service introduces plastics waste classification / New rules to facilitate EU entry / Plastics industry grapples with war-related challenges	06:00
EVERTIS PET film manufacturer plans to build new plants in Portugal and Spain	06:00
ARBURG Machine manufacturer reports further decline in sales / Investments in North America postponed / European business remains cause for concern	06:00
REPEATS Dutch recycling ops insolvent / Capacity estimated at 70,000 t/y	16.03.2026

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Price Reports and Announcements

POLYMER PRICES China engineering thermoplastics February: Rising feedstock costs lift most prices / Spring Festival noticeably dampens demand / Iran conflict drives up crude oil prices / Average increases of up to 25% expected in March	14:45
EMS Sharp price increases set for polyamides	11:38
POLYMER PRICES Standard recyclate March: Recyclers raise prices slightly due to Iran war / Demand increases on seasonal factors / Recycling market a plaything for speculators?	11:02
POLYMER PRICES Standard thermoplastics trend March: Middle East conflict leads to triple-digit increases for nearly all materials / Prices likely to rise further	13.03.2026
CABOT Carbon black manufacturer plans price hikes and surcharges	13.03.2026
POLYURETHANE Dow, Huntsman, Lanxess raise prices for MDI and polyols	13.03.2026
POLYMER PRICE FORECASTS Iran war boosts C2, C3 prices	13.03.2026
POLYMER PRICES China standard thermoplastics February: Prices firm except for polyethylene / Demand remains weak during holidays / Seasonal recovery and Middle East conflict to drive up prices in March	13.03.2026
SABIC Energy surcharges for PC, PBT, blends	12.03.2026
TRINSEO March surcharges for styrenics more than doubled	12.03.2026

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Readers' Choice

MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT Massive mark-ups on prices for virgin material / What purchasing strategy should processors adopt? / Recyclers face possible upswing, boom in demand	11.03.2026
POLYETHYLENE IMPORTS War in Iran threatens Europe's PE supply / Shortage expected within six weeks as US volumes unlikely to compensate	06.03.2026
UPDATE - PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS Polyolefins, PVC: Forces majeures and energy surcharges from LyondellBasell, Ineos, Sabic	11.03.2026
CHINA State of emergency: Middle East conflict shakes petrochemicals sector / High import dependence	16.03.2026
LOGISTICS War in Middle East grips maritime logistics / Freight rates surge / Forces majeures announced due to supply shortages	12.03.2026
LOGISTICS Iran war throws global container shipping into chaos / Operators announce risk surcharges / Is a surge in freight rates looming?	05.03.2026
US-IRAN WAR Persian Gulf refineries under attack / Regional energy sites possible targets / Plastics plants at risk	06.03.2026
SABIC Resin maker changes C2/C3 formula-based contracts / Price hikes for PE, PP	12.03.2026