Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) contract prices in Europe were flat last week according to Polymerupdate, registering €920/tonne FD Northwest Europe. In the spot market, LDPE drifted lower on weak buying activity. Sellers shooting for €800/tonne FD Northwest Europe dropped their offers to between €780 to €790/tonne FD. Many LDPE sellers turned towards Asia and exports.
Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) contract prices in Europe were unchanged at €900/tonne FD Northwest Europe. In the spot markets, prices were also flat between €775 to €785/tonne FD Northwest Europe.
Polypropylene (PP) contract and spot prices were steady, with homopolymer injection-grades contracts at €800/tonne FD Northwest Europe and PP copolymer at €840/tonne FD Northwest Europe. In the spot market, PP homopolymer was assessed at €720/tonne FD Northwest Europe, with PP copolymer at €770/tonne FD Northwest Europe. Some European PP producers were looking to increase contracts in May, and although local demand for PP was subdued, export inquiries were encouraging, particularly from Asia. In addition to this, the European selling community is also pinning its hopes on a recovery in key downstream industries like automotive through the introduction of government stimulus packages.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) April contracts were rolled over from March at €715/tonne FD Northwest Europe. PVC producers attempted to push through increases ranging from €10 to €20/tonne, but prices settled flat. In the spot market, PVC also rolled over from previous week at €530 to €560/tonne FD.
Polystyrene (PS) prices in Europe firmed last week in the contract and spot markets. General-purpose contract prices were assessed at €975/tonne FD Northwest Europe, with high-impact PS contract prices rising to €1025/tonne FD Northwest Europe, from €1000/tonne FD. In the spot market, GPPS and HIPS rose to €790/tonne FD and €840/tonne FD Northwest Europe, respectively. Ineos Nova announced a €65/tonne increase for all European PS effective May 1.
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) contract prices were flat, with general-purpose and natural grades at €1195/tonne FD Northwest Europe. The price represented a rollover from March contracts and was well below producer targets of a €50/tonne increase. —[email protected]
