Higher polymer prices on the horizon

Higher polymer prices on the horizon
By David Platt

Commodity plastics prices registered strong gains in September, with increases of between E60 and E100 a tonne.

Polymer producers have also signalled their intention to raise prices again next month. Planned price hikes of around E100/tonne have been announced from 1 October and producers are confident of pushing most of this through. With feedstock costs rising, they claim that even higher prices are necessary to restore an adequate level of profitability to their polymer operations.

Production restrictions and a series of schedules and unscheduled plant shutdowns have shortened supply.

Following record sales in mid-summer, producers report that more normal buying patterns were resumed in September. While there is still a large element of restocking taking place, the hot summer weather has contributed to higher than expected demand from food and beverage packaging manufacturers.