POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in April 2012: PC, PA 6 and PBT hit by Q2 price hikes / POM and PMMA in rollover / PP compounds rise slightly / Business surprisingly slack / Surplus tendencies

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in March 2012: More grades succumb to upward price trend / Output remains tight / Demand starts to soften / April price hikes could fall short of producers' expectations

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in February 2012: Situation relatively calm / Long-term agreements ease pressure / ABS and PP compound prices on the rise / PA and PBT surging / Rate of price increases likely to quicken

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in January 2012: Rollover predominates / Initial increases for ABS, PA 6 and PP / Restocking / Automotive and E&E sectors take off / Feedstocks rise by triple digits

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in December 2011: Picture dominated by moderate falls / Production cutbacks coincide with subdued end-of-year demand / Costs likely to rise in January / Benzene takes a great leap

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in November 2011: Prices down but rate of decline slows / Only POM suffers triple-digit decrease / More moderate reductions for ABS, PC, PA and PMMA / PBT remains firm / Lacklustre demand / Stability likely at year-end

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in October 2011: Situation at last begins to ease / ABS, PC and PA take a dive as costs of benzene and butadiene plummet / Trend till year-end is "down, but under control"

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering thermoplastics in September 2011: Initial weaknesses appear / ABS, PC, PA and PP compounds begin to crumble / So far the overall picture still remains one of stability / Benzene and butadiene at last decline

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering thermoplastics in August 2011: ABS and PBT rise despite holiday lull / Monomer reduction prompts fall in PP compounds / Bottlenecks ease as demand declines / Automotive still lively / Risks of price increases remain

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in July 2011: Prices stable at a high level / ABS, PC and PP respond to the lower cost basis / Supply adequate / Holiday period dampens demand / Stability likely

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in June 2011: Many grades move up again / ABS, polyamides and PBT are hit particularly hard / Butadiene shortage is the driving factor / Demand significantly weaker / Upward pressure should ease in July

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in May 2011: Butadiene price explosion triggers triple-digit rise for ABS / Higher costs for PA 6, PMMA and PP / Limited feedstock supplies / High stock levels dampen ordering activity / Calls for fresh increases

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in April 2011: Upswing slows down slightly / PBT, POM and PMMA climb by nearly EUR 100/t / Q2 agreements tighten lower price levels / Price hikes likely again in May

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in March 2011: Considerable increases at the end of Q1 / Only POM remains stable / Feedstock costs drop down a notch / Supply tight / Significant rises expected for quarterly agreements

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in February 2011: All materials still rising / PA 6 and POM soar by more than EUR 200/t / Cost wave continues to roll through the markets / No time for a breather before Q2

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in January 2011: Petrochemical cost explosion hits engineering polymers / Benzene takes to new heights prompting triple-digit rises on a broad front / Upward momentum likely to continue through February

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in December 2010: First reactions to cost-driven increases / Extra-low prices still being cleared out / Supply becomes increasingly tight / Q1 kicks off with the threat of extensive hikes

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in November 2010: Stability dominates / Extra-low prices reeled in / Additives continue upward surge / Supply situation improves slightly at year end / High price increases announced for December

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in October 2010: Price hikes take a breather / Only POM rises significantly / High additive costs drive specialities / Supply stabilises / Fresh cost wave likely in November

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in September 2010: Notations continue to climb / Increase more marked with specialised materials / PA has hit the stratosphere / PP compounds down slightly / Tension remains as additives drive prices up