TPE North American resin pricing, Nov. 23-27: PE, PP, and PS steady

Polyethylene (PE) spot prices were mostly steady last week as contract negotiations continued, according to spot-trading platform The Plastics Exchange (TPE), and its reporting partner, The PetroChem Wire. Producers have proposed $0.04-$0.05/lb contract price increases for November, in addition to the $0.04/lb September increase. Some market participants said agreements had been reached to keep prices flat in November and delay any increases until December, while others said November pricing remained under negotiation. Looking forward, producers have also proposed a $0.03/lb increase in December contract pricing. In the spot market, price ideas mostly held steady, with generic-prime railcars of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blowmold and injection grades discussed in the mid-$0.50s/lb range on a delivered basis. Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) film, butene grade, traded at a $0.015-$0.02/lb premium, and remained particularly tight. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film, clarity grades, were in the low $0.60s/lb range. PE exports continued to move from the Gulf Coast in November, with generic-prime railcars of HDPE blowmold transacting in the high $0.40s/lb, and LLDPE film butene in the low $0.50s/lb FOB Houston.

Polypropylene (PP) spot prices were steady from the week prior’s levels, with buyers actively bidding for spot material amid low inventories and rising propylene monomer prices. In the contract market, producers issued increase announcements of $0.06-$0.07/lb for December implementation. Market participants said that PP contract prices were up about $0.03/lb in November. PP availability remained limited last week, as traders and converters sought spot material for delivery before the start of December in the face of tight supply and rising costs. Generic-prime railcars of homopolymer PP in the domestic market were in the high $0.50s/lb range, with copolymer PP at a $0.015/lb premium. Impact copolymers were particularly tight, participants said. PP export demand from the Gulf Coast continued to be thin, with current asking prices for generic-prime homopolymer PP in the low $0.50s/lb range FOB Houston.

Polystyrene (PS) spot prices were largely unchanged from a week earlier, with generic-prime railcars of high-impact PS in the low $0.70s/lb and general-purpose PS in the mid $0.60s/lb. In the contract market, producers sought increases of $0.03/lb in November. —[email protected]