POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics PVC April 2013: Most of ethylene decline is passed on for base grades / Plasticiser rebates pressure some products / Pastes hold up / Falling notations certain in May

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend April 2013: Producers hold onto half of cost reductions / Falling naphtha strengthens converters' waiting game / Intensity of demand revival will decide further developments

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics PVC March 2013: Deep freeze in building sector allows only minimal cost pass-through for S-PVC base / Rising plasticiser prices drive S-PVC (P) compounds / April picture dominated by rollover, despite falling ethylene notation

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend March 2013: Falling costs upstream dash producers' hopes of triple-digit hikes / Polyolefins rise less than costs / Higher input prices added to PVC, PS and EPS / Supply in line with demand

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics PVC February 2013: Minor increases for base polymer / Additives stable / Paste grade flat / Weak building demand pressures / Pronounced upswing expected in spring

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend February 2013: Buyers turn a deaf ear on hike plans / Stable costs dampen momentum / Demand still slack / First upstream cost rises appear / Price spiral could turn upward

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in December 2012: PE slide halted / PP follows monomer downward / PS producers recoup cost rises / PVC and EPS prices softer / Polyolefin producers will seek triple-digit hikes in January

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend December 2012: Notations tend unusually firm / Occasional increases for PE / Only building applications weaker / Fear of triple-digit rises in January

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in November 2012: Autumn mist softens notations / Producers see fresh margin losses / Supply stabilises / December could see an unusual stabilisation

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in September 2012: Cost momentum in first half drives polymers / Supply adequate despite production cuts / Slack ordering pressures the market / Price zenith evidently reached

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend 2012: Producers win more than their increased costs / Margins up, volumes down / Demand shows distinct signs of slowing down / Market is becoming tense

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in August 2012: Polyolefin producers regain margins as costs spiral / PVC and styrenics players restricted to passing on higher costs / Supply tight / Further price rises on the horizon

UPDATE - PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

US hurricane season kicks off / “Isaac” threatens plants across Louisiana in particular / Numerous oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico have been evacuated / Reminiscent of “Katrina” and “Rita”

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in May 2012: Slipping oil prices pull polymers down / Margin losses on a broad front / Inventories swell as converters cut orders to a minimum / Prices destined to fall again in June

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend May 2012: Polyolefins fall on lower feedstocks / PVC stable / PS and EPS cost rises hard to recoup / Lengthening oversupply / Sinking crude notations could trigger more polymer price cuts

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in April 2012: Order slump shatters polyolefin producers' margin-improvement dreams / PS suppliers pass on cost relief / PVC and EPS make gains / Is a trend reversal on the horizon?

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend April 2012: Increases for polyolefins are limited to cost pass-through / PVC profits from start of building season / PS notations lose ground / Slack ordering sets the tone

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in February 2012: Polyolefins see triple-digit rises as margins improve / PVC producers also enjoy some margin relief / Styrenics reach limit / Olefin costs will rise again in March

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend March 2011: Hikes for polyolefins above rise in monomer costs / PVC sees no margin gains / PS shaky / Seasonal demand will help EPS / Extremely high prices dampen demand

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in September 2010: Polyolefins bend under pressure / PVC makes little progress / PS margins improve / EPS demand sluggish / Supply improves while demand slackens / Price pressure continues