There is good momentum for prices to continue to move higher, as long as there is no new market shock or major acceleration in the spread of the coronavirus, according to the PlasticsExchange (Chicago).

Prices were up, down and flat, depending on grade, reports the PlasticsExchange (Chicago) in its weekly Market Update.

Select grades of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) resins were challenging to source last week. Most low-density PE film grades have been outright scarce, commanding a healthy premium, especially for immediate availability.

Most commodity resin prices fell sharply during 2019, but the variance among grades also highlighted distinct differences in sub-markets. High-density polyethylene resins eroded $0.12 to 0.14/lb over the course of the year, while low-density film only shed a single cent.