Polymer Price Reports Released for May 2018
The latest polymer price reports and charts have been released by Plastrack.
Standard Thermoplastics Trends May 2018:
Ethylene (C2) Feedstock –in May we saw further price rises of Eur 25/mt on the back of further increases in the price of crude oil and naptha, and exchange rate movements (Euro v USD). Supply conditions for ethylene monomer remain stable despite production reductions with normal levels of demand.
Propylene (C3) –In line with other olefinic monomers propylene saw a slight increase in the month of Eur 26/mt. This is driven by the slight upward movements in crude oil and naptha, exchange rate movements (Euro v USD) and prices being pushed by reduction in Ethylene production. Supply availability is at reduced levels due to ethylene output reductions although demand is considered normal.
LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE demand and supply is well balanced with slight increases being experienced with HDPE and LDPE. LLDPE prices fell during the month on the back of weaker demand levels.
PP has experienced a slight upward pricing movement of Eur 23/mt. Supply is at normal levels although demand is at a weaker level than producers expected and this will provide some resistance to forward upward price movement in June.
PVC pricing levels decreased slightly in the month Eur 4/mt. The market is currently over supplied with no reduction of production output experienced. Demand is at normal levels.
Styrenic prices experienced further downward movement of around Eur 40/mt in the month following the fall in styrene monomer prices. Supply and demand is balanced but there are predictions of a price increase in June based on upward June stryene monomer price levels.
Engineering Thermoplastics Trends May 2018:
Benzene feedstock pricing increased slightly in the month by Eur 4/mt.The market is currently well balanced from a demand and supply perspective.
PC price increases of Eur 25/mt were seen during the month. There is little improvement in the supply situation with supply remaining tight.
PA6pricing increased by Eur 42/mt. Supply remains tight with long producer lead times and low inventory levels. Further price increases are expected in the coming months.
PA66pricing fell back slightly by Eur 6/mt. Supply remains at critically tight levels. There was prediction that increased ADN production would flow into the supply chain quicker but this will take more time. Demand was slightly reduced due to the holiday periods in May which gave some reprieve from the upward price movements. Further upward price pressure is anticipated in June with increases in upstream feedstocks needing to be passed through to end markets.
PBT pricing was stable in the period although the supply situation remains tight. Further price increases are predicted in the coming months.
POM pricing increased by Eur 40/mt during the month with supply remaining tight. Upward price pressure in expected to continue in the coming months.
PMMA pricing increased slightly by Eur 1/mt. Supply remains at reduced levels with normal levels of demand.
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 inform
