Polypropylene (PP) contract prices shot higher in Europe last week, according to Polymerupdate, with homopolymer injection grades hitting €940/tonne FD Northwest Europe and copolymer contracts at €980/tonne FD Northwest Europe. In the spot market, PP prices were flat, with homopolymer injection grades at €855/tonne FD Northwest Europe and copolymer at €905/tonne FD Northwest Europe. In plant new, Ineos declared a force majeure on supplies of three grades of PP impact copolymer following a technical problem at its Geel, Belgium unit. Dow’s Wesseling, Germany PP unit also experienced a temporary shutdown, with the 230,000-tonnes/year-plant impacted by a lack of propylene feedstock.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) contracts for general-purpose grades rose last week, with FD Northwest Europe and FD Italy prices up €10/tonne to €1020/tonne. In the spot market, although seller offers were up at €950 to €960/tonne FD Northwest Europe, prices were unchanged from the week before at €940/tonne FD Northwest Europe.

Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) contract prices were also higher, with FD Northwest Europe and FD Italy prices up €10/tonne to €1010/tonne. In the spot market, LLDPE was stable at €920-€930/tonne FD Northwest Europe. Buying slowed as the number of summer vacations in Europe increased, but European LLDPE producers remain determined to push through hikes given the extreme tightness in regional availability.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) spot prices recorded steep gains in Europe last week, with prices assessed at €700-€750/tonne FD Northwest Europe, up from €650-€680/tonne FD Northwest Europe a week earlier. In contracts, PVC producers increased July prices from €50-€70/tonne. In plant news, the ongoing force majeure at Solvin’s Rheinberg, Germany site continued to affect 165,000 tonnes/year of PVC capacity.

Polystyrene (PS) moved sharply higher on gains in styrene monomer (SM). General-purpose PS contract prices rose to €1120/tonne FD Northwest Europe, with high-impact PS at €1170/tonne FD Northwest Europe. In the spot market, general-purpose PS prices were assessed at €960/tonne FD Northwest Europe, up from €940/tonne a week earlier. High-impact PS prices also rose, hitting €1005/tonne FD Northwest Europe.

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) prices edged higher in Europe last week, with contract prices for general purpose and natural grades reaching €1320/tonne FD Northwest Europe and FD Italy. In the spot market, ABS rose to €1095-€1100/tonne FD Northwest Europe. —[email protected]