Prices for recycled resins in Europe slide further on depressed demand

In December, European standard recyclate prices fell across the board as a result of very low pre-holiday demand.

Recycled PET saw the steepest falls with price reductions of €150 per metric ton for clear flake and reductions of €100 per tonne for colored flake and for clear food grade pellets.

Recycled high density polyethylene blow molding colored grade prices fell by €50 per tonne while recycled HDPE black injection molding prices fell slightly. Recycled low density natural film prices fell by €50 per tonne with translucent film pellet prices down by €30 per tonne. Recycled polypropylene prices declined by just €10 per tonne and recycled high impact polystyrene prices were €50 per tonne lower in December.

Recyclate prices have continued their downward trajectory primarily as a result of very low demand. Converters are buying less material as a result of the economic downturn and growing competition from declining primary material prices.

The demand position was further weakened last month by converters destocking ahead of the end-year balance sheet accounting practices. Converters were therefore buying just sufficient recyclate to cover their immediate production needs.

Material availability was generally quite low yet there was more than enough material to meet the low level of demand.

Few price agreements had been struck at the time this research was conducted during the first week of the month. Standard recyclate prices remain under pressure at the start of the new year. Recycled PET, PP and PS prices are expected to fall further throughout the month of January. Recycled HDPE and LDPE prices are more likely to remain either stable or to fall slightly.

Demand is expected to pick up only slowly over the course of the month as processors return to work after the holidays and begin to replenish stocks. Some recyclers have undertaken plant maintenance programs during the festive season while others are considering leaving their plants closed for an extended period given the weak level of demand.

Recycled PET
In December, destocking by converters combined with the short production month further exacerbated an already weak demand position and led to a further collapse in recycled PET prices. Clear flake material also faced stiff competition from imported recyclate and prices fell by €140-150 per tonne. Colored flake and clear food grade pellet prices fell by €100 euros per tonne, well in excess of the €50 per tonne reduction in the cost of bottle scrap. There was a plentiful supply of bottle scrap and no shortage of recyalate.

In January, there is likely to be further downward pressure on prices. Demand is expected to pick up at a slow pace as processors gradually restart production after the holidays and begin to replenish their inventories. Some recyclers are even considering leaving their facilities closed until there is a more substantial recovery in demand.

Recycled LDPE
In December, recycled LDPE natural film prices fell by €50 per tonne with translucent film pellet prices down by €30 per tonne. Demand was very low as a result of the short production month and sales were further suppressed by destocking by converters ahead of end-of-year balance sheet accounting practices. Material availability was short although the low levels of demand meant that contracts were largely fulfilled.

Recycled LDPE prices changed little at the beginning of the New Year as many recyclers and processors had postponed the restart of their facilities until the second week of January. Demand is however expected to pick up over he month as converters begin  to replenish inventories. This should reduce the downward pressure on prices a little.

Recycled HDPE
In December, recycled HDPE blow molding colored grade prices fell by €50 per tonne as a result of lower input costs and a further deterioration in demand. Black injection molding prices fell only slightly. Demand was very low across the board as a result of the short production month and converters buying only sufficient material to cover their immediate needs ahead of the end-year accounting practices. There was more than enough material to meet the low demand.

Recycled HDPE prices moved very little at the start of the New Year as many recycling and processing plants remained shut until the second week of January. Demand is expected to recover slowly during the course of the month as converters look to replenish stocks. Prices are likely to remain fairly stable through January as a whole.

Recycled PP
Recycled PP prices fell by just €10 per tonne in December amid continuing production curbs and weak demand. Demand remained low as a result of the short production month and also converters reducing stock levels ahead of the end-of-year accounting period. Recyclers continued to curb production but there was sufficient material available to meet the subdued demand.

Prices are continuing on a downward path during the first week of the New Year as processors called for further price rebates. Demand is likely to pick up slowly as the month progresses with converters beginning to replenish stocks.

Recycled PS
In December, recycled PS prices fell by €50 per tonne as a result of falling costs and low demand. Many processors reduced their stock levels ahead of the year-end balance sheet preparations. Supply was sufficient to meet the low level of demand.

Prices continued to slide during the first week of the New Year as processors called for further price rebates. Demand is likely to pick up slowly as the month progresses with converters beginning to replenish stocks.