Plastics News this week is correcting prices for expandable polystyrene and for some grades of thermoplastic elastomers shown on the weekly resin pricing chart.
EPS prices now are showing an 8-cent-per-pound increase for full-year 2016. The increase reflects strong demand for the material and higher prices for benzene feedstock, which is used to make styrene monomer.
The U.S./Canadian EPS market enjoyed a strong year in 2016. Sales in the region were up almost 11 percent, according to the American Chemistry Council, with domestic sales up more than 11 percent and sales into the export market up almost 7 percent.
In TPEs, prices for styrenic TPEs are being corrected upward by 70 cents per pound, while polyester TPE prices are being corrected downward by 25 cents per pound. Both moves are designed to reflect market changes.