Entering 2024, North American prices for post-industrial polypropylene have continued to increase, while post-industrial polycarbonate regrind and pellets have decreased slightly.
Recycled PP had seen price decreases in the first half of 2023 due to a lack of demand, but then began to increase during the third quarter.
On average, recycled PP pellet prices have increased 9 cents per pound, according to sources in discussion with Plastics News. That brings the current range to 45-47 cents. These changes are shown on this week's PN resin pricing chart.
A source in Pennsylvania said post-industrial PP is impacted by pricing for wide-spec virgin resin, which in turn is impacted by polymer-grade propylene prices. The source said recycled PP prices have been up for four or five months.
Prices have been increasing because there has been less wide-spec available in the market. The market is still recovering from the drop in demand, as prices in 2022 for recycled PP were higher.
"We've seen a softness in the market over the last six months, but it's starting to pick back up," said a recycler in Ohio.