Most North American commodity resin prices saw higher prices in March, and many may see increases again in April. But polyethylene prices were surprisingly flat again last month.
In the April Polymer Points Live, senior reporter Frank Esposito also said that PET bottle resin prices were up 2 cents per pound in March. Plastics News had not previously reported that increase.
Recording below.Polypropylene, PVC, polystyrene, nylon and polycarbonate prices were also up in March, and Esposito explained why. For PP and PS, for example, the increases were feedstock related. For PVC, nylon and PC increased demand played a part.
Polyethylene buyers have been expecting changes for several months now, but the market stayed flat as a result of suppliers throttling back on exports, Esposito said.
Esposito predicted that “April’s going to be interesting again,” with increases on the table for some resins including polyethylene, and buyers expecting to see lower prices for polypropylene as a result of sharply falling polymer grade propylene prices.
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