Market Report Plastics - March 2010

Information about the market for plastics is being presented by:
bvse - Bundesverband Sekundärrohstoffe und Entsorgung e.V.

1. The market for primary plastics

According to the EUWID Price Watch, the prices of all standard plastics continued to rise considerably in February, namely by 67 €/t on average. The average price of the ten types of plastics listed below was at 1161 €/t in February, compared to 1094 €/t in January. The price increases, which varied considerably depending on the type of plastics, ranged from 20 €/t to 100 €/t. The following prices rose in particular: PE by 70 -100 €/t, PS by 20 - 40 €/t, PP by 80 - 100 €/t and PVC by 40 - 50 €/t. The following prices are now quoted for the ten types of standard plastics: LDPE film grade 1170 - 1200 €/t, LLDPE film grade 1170 - 1200 €/t, HDPE injection moulding 1130 - 1180 €/t, HDPE blow moulding 1130 - 1180 €/t, PS general purpose1200 - 1240 €/t, PS high impact 1260 - 1310 €/t, PP homopolymer 1130 - 1180 €/t, PP copolymer 1180 - 1230 €/t, PVC tube grade 980 - 1020 €/t and PVC film/cables 1040 -1090 €/t. The price of PET for packaging decreased by 30 €/t on average compared to the previous month, namely by 1200 - 1250 €/t.

The two PP and LLDPE quotes for Europe on the London Metal Exchange (LME) came closer together. In week 11 the purchase prices of PP and LDPE for April and May were at 1210 USD/t (880 €/t) respectively. Hence, the April prices of PP increased by 45 USD/t compared to the previous month's quotes. The quotes for LLDPE decreased by 10 USD/t.

According to the EUWID Price Watch for February, the prices of technical plastics increased almost throughout! The price rises ranged from 50 €/t to 100 €/t. The following prices were quoted: PMMA crystal clear 2200 - 2350 €/t, ABS natural 1400 - 1500, ABS white/black 1480 - 1600 €/t, ABS mixed colours 2100 - 2250 €/t, PC crystal clear 2250 - 2450 €/t, PC GF 2250 - 2450 €/t, POM natural 1800 - 2000 €/t, PA 6 natural 1850 - 2100 €/t, PA 6 black 1850 - 2100 €/t, PA 6 GF reinforced 2100 - 2300 €/t, PA 66 natural 2400 - 2600 €/t and PA 66 GF 2650 - 2850 €/t.

The reductions in supply still continue to have an impact in Europe. The increased demand in February and March led to manufacturers and traders running out of supplies at an early date. There have been no plastics imports to balance out the excess demand. Further price increases are also predicted for technical plastics. Furthermore, the prices of precursors are rising. The information provided by the LME indicates price stabilisation in April and May. Experts predict further price rises for April and thus for the March price index. The demand till Easter is expected to be steadily high.

2. The market for secondary plastics

The first quarter of 2010 has been satisfactory for plastics recycling. Since January waste plastics and recyclates have been in great demand. The boosts in demand from the primary markets are also driving up the prices on the secondary markets. As a consequence, high-grade regrind and regranulates are selling well. The EUWID Price Watch shows price increases for certain PE grades as well as PET, whereas PP, PS and PVC have held their own. However, it is still not clear whether the resurgence on the secondary markets is due to the increase in the demand for production or to the reduction in supply on the primary markets. The export demand from the Far East has continued to increase after the Chinese New Year's festival. The falling dollar exchange rate is also stimulating demand.

2.1 EUWID Price Watch

PE: The prices of PE continued to increase in February, namely by 10 €/t to 60 €/t. The prices of high-grade film increased by 40 €/t to 50 €/t. The export demand for film has increased. As far as PE post-industrial is concerned, the quotes for HDPE nearly held their own. The prices of both film and regrind made from LDPE increased by 40 €/t to 50 €/t. Hence, the following amended prices were quoted: HDPE natural 450-550 €/t, LDPE natural 400-500 €/t, LDPE film mixed colours (K49) 190-270 €/t and LDPE film natural (K40) 350-490 €/t. The following amended prices were quoted for post-user PE: LDPE shrink film natural (E40) 370-430 €/t, LDPE shrink film mixed colours (E49) 220-280 €/t, film transparent natural < 70 µm 340 - 390 €/t, film transparent natural < 70 µm 40 - 110 €/t, LDPE farm film black/white > 70 µm 40 - 60 €/t, PE mixed film (90/10) 210 - 240 €/t and PE mixed film (80/20) 180 - 220 €/t.

PP: No changes in the quotes for PP. PP follows the trends from the PE markets. High-graded PP regrind and PP regranulates are selling well. Above all, natural materials are in great demand.

PS: Stable PS prices according to EUWID. PS is in great demand. The primary markets are driving up the prices on the secondary markets in this case, too.

PVC: PVC has also held its own. As a result of the very long winter break, which is due to the cold weather, the demand in the building and construction sector is still very low this time.

PET post user: The prices on the PET market are being driven up by the price rises of virgin materials, by a low supply of used beverage bottles as well as a considerable foreign and domestic demand. The high quantities of beverage bottles are accompanied by considerable processing capacities in Germany and Europe. The March quotes are likely to further increase. The following prices for used and disposable PET bottles were quoted by EUWID in February: PET transparent 250 - 290 €/t and PET mixed colours 130 - 160 €/t. As a consequence, the price of PET transparent rose by 30 €/t, whereas the quote for PET mixed colours increased by 20 - 30 €/t.

2.2 plasticker price index

In February, the plasticker price index revealed price stabilisation for standard plastics. Even though the price rises ranging between 10 €/t and 30 €/t prevailed, four prices, which ranged between - 10 €/t and - 100 €/t, were reduced. The first forecast of the March quotes reveals further price stabilisation. The following price changes of greater than/less than 40 €/t can be reported for February compared to January 2010: HDPE bale goods - 50 €/t and PS regrind - 100 €/t.

Secondary standard plastics

In February, the prices of technical plastics stabilised with respect to regrind, whereas the corresponding quotes for regranulates increased. The quotes for regrind rose by 20 €/t respectively. The price increases for regranulates ranged between 190 €/t and 530 €/t! The prices quoted by plasticker for regranulates have been fluctuating considerably over the past 18 months.

Secondary technical plastics

*Supply figures too low to attain statistical significance

The quotes for secondary plastics, which are updated on an hourly basis, can be calculated using the price lists that are derived from the quotations published in the raw material exchange plasticker. The prices listed in this index are quoted with reservation - as the majority of the quotes submitted are not necessarily equivalent to the sales prices.Therefore, the information provided by plasticker indicates distinctly different market behaviour than the prices quoted by EUWID.

The EUWID price quotes refer to bale goods or regrind. The given prices were quoted for business transactions between sorting plants and sales agents or the processing industry, as the case may be. As a rule, prices refer to quantities in excess of 20 to ex works. The prices attainable in trade can differ considerably from the indicated price range in both directions, depending on the grade of the type of plastic material quoted. The abbreviations used for some grades refer to the list of waste plastics published by the German Federal Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Waste Disposal (bvse)/Bureau of International Recycling (BIR).