Higher energy costs, lower demand hitting European recyclers

Recycled plastics prices fell across the board in Europe during September and October. The economic downturn and fear of a recession have severely weakened demand. In addition, as the cost of virgin polymers tumbled in recent months, a number of converters and brand owners elected to switch from recyclate to lower-priced virgin material for products where sustainability is not a key selling point.

In view of the weak demand and falling prices, recyclers have been unable to pass through higher energy costs onto converters. As a result, the profitability of plastics recycling has been undermined. Recyclers are responding by either taking an unprofitable line out of production or by completely shutting down recycling facilities.

The cutback in production has so far been insufficient to stabilize recycled plastics prices due to the very weak demand. Hence, material availability has been sufficient to meet overall demand over the last two months.

Recycled PET clear flake and clear food grade pellet prices have fallen by €120-130 per metric tonne over the last two months. Recycled PET colored flake prices, where demand has been more resilient, have only fallen by €40-50 per tonne.

Recycled low density polyethylene film prices have fallen by €140-160 per tonne since the start of September. Recycled high density PE prices have fallen by €130-140 per tonne over the same period. Recycled polypropylene copolymer prices are down by €150 per tonne with Recycled PP homopolymer prices down by €120 per tonne. Recycled polystyrene prices have fallen by €140 per tonne.

Weak end user demand and further switching by some consumer goods producers from recycled to lower-priced virgin material is likely to put further downward pressure on recycled plastics prices in November. To achieve better market balance and restore price stability, more recyclers are expected to consider either reducing production or shutting down recycling facilities altogether.

Recycled PET

Recycled PET prices have been quite resilient to the impact of declining demand in recent months but succumbed to lower sales in September. Clear R-PET pellets and clear flake prices declined by €50 per tonne while colored flake prices dropped by €30 per tonne.

Demand weakened further at the start of the low season and the high price levels also deterred sales. Some converters switched to lower-priced standard PET for products that had not been advertise for their sustainability credentials.

There were ample supplies of bottle scrap to meet demand; bottle scrap prices softened by around €25 per tonne.
In October, the price decline for clear recycled PET pellets and clear flake materials gathered pace with price rebates of around €70-80 per tonne. R-PET demand was low at the start of the off-season for the beverage industry. Colored flake prices, where demand was more resilient, fell by only €20-30 per tonne. Overall, production was sufficient to cover contracted volumes despite some production cutbacks.

Recycled LDPE

Recycled LDPE prices fell sharply in September on weakening demand. Film grades were discounted by €80-100 per tonne while black extrusion grade pries dropped by €60-70 per tonne. Recyclers largely failed in their attempt to pass through higher energy costs onto buyers. As a result, many recyclers are being forced to either trim production or shut down facilities in order to stem losses. Nevertheless, material availability remained generally adequate.

A downturn in the economy has dampened overall demand for recyclate and some brand owners have opted to switch to lower-priced off-spec standard material, where feasible.

Recycled LDPE prices have maintained a downward trajectory in October due to continued weak demand and competition from lower-priced virgin material. As a result, recyclers were unable to pass through higher energy costs. As profitability has been squeezed even further, a number of recyclers have either reduced production or shut down facilities altogether.

Recycled HDPE

In September, R-HDPE prices fell again as a result of weak demand and competition from virgin material. Colored blow molding pellet prices were down by €50 per tonne and black injection molding pellets prices fell by €80 per tonne. Recyclers’ attempts to factor in higher energy costs largely failed.

Recyclers of HDPE are suffering from very low demand as a result of the economic slowdown and switching of product from recyclate to lower-priced standard material, where possible. Automotive and E&E were the worst performing end use sectors for Recycled HDPE products.

In October, weak demand and growing competition from falling standard HDPE prices contributed to a further fall in R-HDPE prices. Colored blow molding pellet prices were €80 per tonne down on September with black injection molding pellet prices down by €60 per tonne.

Recycled PP

Recycled PP prices fell sharply in September due to weak demand, despite rising energy costs. Black copolymer pellet prices dropped by €100 per tonne while black homopolymer pellet prices were €50 per tonne lower. The inability of recyclers to raise prices sufficiently to cover higher energy costs has resulted in production cutbacks and the shutdown of several recycling facilities,

The economic downturn has weakened demand for recyclate while material availability remained generally sufficient to fulfil contractual obligations. Recycled PP prices continued to decline during October as weak demand more than offset production cutbacks. Both black homopolymer and black copolymer prices fell by €60 per tonne.

Recycled high-impact polystyrene

Recycled HIPS prices crashed by up to €100 per tonne in September in the face of weakening demand. A sharp reduction in virgin HIPS prices is also piling competitive pressure on recyclate prices. There was sufficient material available to meet contractual obligations.

In October, R-HIPS prices dropped on average by a further €40 per tonne as a result of continued weak demand and a growing competition from the falling prices of standard HIPS material. In November, recyclers plan to reduce production more in step with demand