A PVC price increase that ends two months of flat pricing in North America is featured in this week's Material Insights video. Regional PVC prices rose an average of 3 cents per pound in September. Higher prices for ethylene-based feedstocks and stronger demand from construction markets played roles in the increases. Prices had been flat since falling a combined 7 cents per pound in may and June. PVC makers now are working on a 5-cent increase for October. Coca-Cola's plan to build a massive PET feedstock plant in Brazil also is featured in this week's video. The plant in Araraquara, Brazil, would make more than one billion pounds of bio-based monoethylene glycol each year and is expected to open in late 2014. Coke is building the plant in a partnership with JBF Industries of Mumbai. Coke has set a goal of having its plant bottles made 100 percent from material derived from plants. The video wraps up with news that French firm Limagrain Cereal Ingredients is building a plant in Pato Branco, Brazil, making bioplastic granules. The granules use biodegradable maize cereal flour as a feedstock and can be used in a variety of plastics applications.
N. American PS prices fall 3 cents in April
May 13, 2013 12:29 pm ET
