Polymer Price Reports Released for May 2019

The latest polymer price reports and charts have been released by Plastrack.

Standard Thermoplastics Trends May 2019:

Ethylene (C2) Feedstock – in May prices were relatively stable versus the prior period with no major changes in upstream naphtha pricing levels.

Propylene (C3) – In May prices rolled over with no significant change in naphtha pricing levels.  Scheduled maintenance outages do not appear to be affecting the balance of supply and demand.  The market is balanced.

LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE price increases were seen during the month driven by producers efforts to improve weakened margin positions.  Lower levels of supply with normal demand assisted the upward price drive.  Supply has been affected by a combination of planned maintenance shutdowns and some unexpected outages which occurred during the period.

PP pricing increased during the month as producers sought to improve margin position.  The lower supply levels with a number of unplanned production stoppages supported the upward price movement.  Demand is at normal levels.  Little movement is expected in pricing level for the coming period.

PVC pricing increased by Eur 18/mt in the month of May.  The market continues to be well balanced with demand and supply at normal levels.  Little movement is expected in pricing levels in the coming period.

Styrenic prices increased by Eur 36/mt on average in the period driven by higher prices of SM filtering through.  A significant decrease in pricing level is expected in the coming period on the back of a significant decline in SM monomer pricing levels seen so far in June.  Supply is at normal levels however demand remains low (a number of purchasers are holding off purchases in anticipation of price falls).

Engineering Thermoplastics Trends May 2019:

Benzene feedstock pricing decreased by Eur 82/mt. Demand and supply are at normal levels.

PC prices reduced in the period by some Eur 34/mt driven mainly by the forces of supply / demand.  Supply is at normal levels however stocks are building owing to the low demand (particularly from automotive end markets).  Further price decreases are expected in the coming period.

PA6 pricing was largely stable in the month of May.  Both supply and demand are at low levels.  Price reductions are forecasted in the coming period.

PA66 pricing was largely stable in the month of May. Supply and demand continue to be imbalanced with normal supply levels and much lower demand.  Demand from automotive remains a headache and forward projections is that downward price pressure will build in the coming period.

PBT pricing was largely stable in the month of April.  Supply and demand are balanced but at low levels.  Price stability continues to be predicted in the coming period.

POM pricing was largely stable in the month of May with only slight adjustments seen.  Supply and demand are at low levels.  Price stability is predicted in the coming period.

PMMA pricing was largely stable in the month of May.  The market is well supplied but demand is still very low.  Forward price reductions are anticipated.

Plastrack Polymer Price Index

Plastrack is a web based tool which can be accessed by desktop, tablet or mobile and provides pricing data on the most common feedstocks and polymers. Prices are updated on a monthly basis based on information obtained by Plastrack researchers directly from plastics producers, traders, distributors and converters. Visit Plastrack’s website for more information.