Resin Prices Are Soaring

PE prices shoot up

Polyethylene prices were on the rise in March and April for processors with 30-day and 60-day contract protection, respectively, as suppliers sought to implement 6¢/lb increases scheduled for Feb. 1. A new 5¢/lb hike for March 15, supported by all major suppliers, was also under way. Moreover, an energy surcharge of 6¢/lb was issued in March by Nova Chemicals for all purchases (no exceptions), effective immediately. At press time, other suppliers were reportedly instituting similar surcharges.

Meanwhile, Dow Wire & Cable Compounds in Houston boosted all its polyolefin wire/cable materials by 5¢/lb on April 1. This comes on top of a 6¢/lb increase on Jan. 24. Spot prices are up 11¢/lb since the start of the year.

Contributing factors: The resin increases are driven by the unprecedented price escalation of feedstock and energy costs, a situation that is expected to continue. Moreover, resin supply has tightened considerably as production has been curtailed. LL/LDPE film grades are particularly tight, while HDPE injection and blow molding grades are a bit looser.

 

PP prices up

Polypropylene prices went up 3¢/lb in March, following implementation of an earlier 3¢ hike in February. A new round of 5¢ increases was announced for April 1. The emergence of still more increases for May is considered probable. Spot resin prices are up 9¢/lb since the start of the year.

Contributing factors: Resin suppliers are trying to catch up with propylene monomer costs. Polymer-grade propylene contract prices went up 2¢/lb in January, 2¢ in February, 4¢ in March, and April appeared ripe for another 3¢ increase. That would total 11¢/lb in four months, bringing propylene prices to over 30¢/lb. (Propylene’s last major price spike was in 1999, when in reached 27¢/lb).

Resin suppliers say they will barely break even when all pending increases are implemented, totaling 11¢/lb. Meanwhile, resin demand is strong and supply is tight because of a temporary shortness of monomer supply.

 

Engineering resins rise

Briefly summarizing recent changes in engineering and other thermoplastics:

• BASF hiked nylon injection molding grades by 14¢/lb on March 18. At press time last month there was no word of anyone else following suit.
• PBT resins were raised 7¢ by BASF on March 18 and 9¢/lb by Ticona on April 1. GE said it also raised PBT by an unspecified amount.
• BASF and Ticona both hiked acetals 10¢/lb on April 1.
• Ticona raised tabs on Impet PET, Riteflex polyester TPE, and Vadar polyester alloy by 7¢ April 1.
• Dow pushed ABS and SAN prices up 7¢ on April 1. GE said its ABS prices were up, too.
• Polycarbonate suppliers also admitted to raising prices but would not discuss actual amounts.
• Acrylic prices are on the rise with an 8¢/lb announcement by Cyro for April 1. Another increase is said to be likely within a month.

 

TDI, MDI, polyols up

April 1 price hikes on polyurethane chemicals—TDI, MDI, and polyols—have been issued by all major suppliers. Dow, Bayer, BASF, and Huntsman issued price increases of 10¢/lb for TDI, and 7¢ to 8¢/lb for pure and polymeric MDI. Rigid and flexible polyols went up 6-7¢, and BASF also raised its rigid and flexible foam systems 8¢ and spray-foam systems 10¢/lb. Dow added a 3¢/lb upcharge for tank-truck deliveries of all PUR products.

Moreover, in a surprising move, Dow issued further increases to take effect March 15. They include an additional 11¢/lb hike on TDI and 4¢/lb on MDI and polyether and copolymer polyols.

 

Thermosets go up again

After 4¢/lb hikes on unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins in February, suppliers announced similar or larger increases for early to mid-March. Reichhold, Interplastic, and Cook Composites raised polyesters 4¢/lb. Dow Plastics did the same for Derakane vinyl esters. AOC, however, announced a 5¢/lb hike on all resins, gel coats, and pigment pastes. Ashland did the same for its polyesters, vinyl esters, and gel coats. Most suppliers say another increase is likely for May.

Epoxy prices are up, too. Dow raised epoxy resins and hardeners on April 1. Resins went up 7¢ to 10¢/lb, while hardeners rose 6¢. 

 

 

Market Prices Effective Mid-Mar A

RESIN GRADEb ¢/LB ¢/CU INc    ABS           MED IMPACT   62 - 82     2.4 - 3.1       HI IMPACT   72 - 85     2.7 - 3.2       X-HI IMPACT   82 - 105     3.1 - 3.9       HI HEAT   85 - 95     3.2 - 3.6       PIPE   58 - 62     2.2 - 2.3       SHEET   75 - 90     3.0 - 3.7       TRANSPARENT   125 - 165     4.9 - 6.4       FITTINGS   65 - 78     2.4 - 2.9       PLATING   95 - 105     3.5 - 3.9       FLAME RET   105 - 135     4.6 - 5.9       STRUCT FM   83 - 97     3.6 - 4.3       10% GLASS   125 - 140     5.0 - 5.6       30% GLASS   116 - 136     5.3 - 6.3       ABS/PC ALLOY   135 - 165     5.6 - 6.8       ABS/PVC ALLOY   130 - 135     5.8 - 6.1       ABS/NYLON ALLOY   190     7.3       ACETAL           HOMOPOL   130 - 147     6.7 - 7.3       20% GLASS   160 - 220     9.0 - 12.4       COPOLYMER   133 - 137     6.8 - 7.0       25% GLASS   160 - 215     9.2 - 12.3       ACRYLIC           G-P   72 - 102     3.0 - 4.3       IMPACT   130 - 191     5.4 - 7.9       ACRYLONITRILE COPOL           EXTRUSION   101 - 116     4.0 - 4.6       INJECTION   120 - 135     4.8 - 5.4       ALKYD  65 - 74    4.9 - 5.5       CELLULOSICS           ACETATE   187     8.6       CAB   184     7.9       CAP   184     7.9       DAP (G-P)  251 - 497    16.7 - 34.7       EPOXY           G-P RESIN   116 - 126     NAd       COMPOUNDS               C/B/Te   123 - 166     9.4 - 12.9       R/C/Df   208 - 271     15.3 - 20.1       SEMICONDUCTOR               NOVOLAC   193 - 228     13.1 - 15.9       ANHYDRIDE   188 - 268     13.9 - 19.2       EVA           INJECTION   46 - 52     1.5 - 1.7       FILM EXTRU   42 - 49     1.4 - 1.6       EVOH  265    11.3       FLUORO-POLYMER           CTFE   4500     346.6       ECTFE   1400 - 1600     108.3 - 123.8     ETFE   1100 - 1600     73.6 - 107.1      FEP   925 - 1400     71.3 - 107.9      PFA   1700 - 2400     131.6 - 185.8     PTFE   450 - 900     34.8 - 69.7       PVDF   650 - 800     41.4 - 50.9       IONOMER           PACKAGING   127 - 166     4.3 - 6.0       INDUSTRIAL   150 - 244     5.0 - 8.3       LIQUID-CRYSTAL POLYMERS           INJECTION MIN FILLED   690 - 1035     44.2 - 72.1       GLASS FILLED   695 - 895     40 - 52       CARBON FILLED   1700 - 2000     83.2 - 138.6      UNFILLED   1000 - 1200     58 - 70       EXTRUSION UNFILLED   1200 - 2200     60.5 - 110.9      MELAMINE COMPOUND  90 - 94    5.5 - 5.6       MELAMINE/PHENOLIC COMPOUND  75 - 83    4.5 - 5.0       NYLON           TYPE 6   124 - 139     6.2 - 7.0       MIN FILLED   119 - 132     5.9 - 6.6       30% GLASS   150 - 160     7.2 - 7.7       TYPE 66   140 - 155     7.4 - 8.2       MIN FILLED   140 - 148     7.4 - 7.8       30% GLASS   180 - 190     8.8 - 9.3       TYPE 69   250 - 276     9.7 - 10.7       TYPE 6/10   286 - 313     12.4 - 13.6       TYPE 612   400     15.3       30% GLASS   309 - 311     14.7       40% GLASS   309     14.7       TYPE 46   295     12.6       TYPE 11   329 - 341     13.6 - 14.1       30% GLASS   331 - 350     15.0 - 15.8       40% GLASS   347 - 360     17.7 - 18.5       TYPE 12   318 - 341     12.1 - 13.0       30% GLASS   327 - 350     14.7 - 15.8       50% GLASS   299 - 340     15.6 - 17.8       TRANSPARENT AMORPHOUS   247 - 360     10.3 - 15.0       PHENOLIC MOLD COMP  55.5 - 87.5    2.8 - 4.0       REINFORCED GRADES   100.5 - 267.5    6.0 - 15.9       POLYAMIDE-IMIDEg           UNFILLED   2310 - 3045     124.7 - 164.4     30% GLASS   2250 - 2985     130.4 - 173.0     30% CARBON FIB.   3260 - 3950     173.6 - 210.5     POLYARYLATE  200 - 280    8.8 - 12.3       POLYARYL SULFONE  440    21.8       POLYBUTYLENE           G-P   94 - 96     3.1       FILM   88 - 91     2.9       PIPE               COLD WATER   116 - 120     3.9 - 4.0       HOT WATER   162 - 166     5.5 - 5.6       POLYCARBONATE           INJECTION   138 - 165     5.9 - 7.0       20% GLASS   177 - 190     7.6 - 8.2       30% GLASS   178 - 217     7.6 - 9.3       EXTRUSION   127 - 145     5.4 - 6.2       BLOW MOLD   140 - 170     6.0 - 7.3       STRUCT FOAM   149 - 181     6.4 - 7.8       20% GLASS   235 - 255     10.1 - 11.0       FR   166 - 197     7.1 - 8.5       CD   82 - 100     3.5 - 4.3       POLYESTER (TP) PBT TYPE           UNFILLED   143 - 150     6.9       HI-IMP   154 - 165     7.6       30% GLASS, FR   165 - 187     10.0       STRUCT FOAM   159 - 165     NAd       PET           BOTTLE (RAILCAR)   63 - 67     3.2 - 3.4       MOD PET               30% GLASS   132 - 143     7.4       55% GLASS   148 - 155     9.8       30% GLASS FLAME RET   147 - 157     9.2       PETG COPOL   114 - 124     5.2 - 5.6

RESIN GRADEb ¢/LB ¢/CU INc  POLYESTER THERMOSET           G-P ORTHO   53 - 57     NAd       ISOPHTHALIC   70 - 80     NAd       BIS-A   120 - 150     NAd       PEEK  4400    231       30% GLASS   3300     173       POLYETHERIMIDE  641 - 646    29.3 - 29.5       30% GLASS   526 - 531     24.0 - 24.2       POLYETHERKETONE (PEK)  2950    130.1       30% GLASS   2600     153       POLYETHERSULFONE  350 - 400    17.2 - 19.7       30% GLASS   425 - 525     21 - 25.9       POLYETHYLENE (RAILCAR) LDPE           G-P MOLDING & EXTRU   63 - 66     2.1 - 2.2       INJECTION   63 - 66     2.1 - 2.2       LID RESIN   64 - 67     2.1 - 2.2       LINER   62 - 65     2.1       CLARITY   60 - 62     2.0       EXTRU COATG   63 - 65     2.1       BLOW MOLD   64 - 67     2.1 - 2.2       LLDPE, BUTENE BASED           G-P MOLDING   49 - 51     1.6 - 1.7       FILM   51 - 53     1.7 - 1.8       ROTOMOLD   53 - 55     1.8       LLDPE, HAO-BASED           G-P MOLDING   55 - 57     1.9       LID RESIN   61 - 64     2.0 - 2.1       LINER FILM   56 - 58     1.9       HDPE           G-P INJ MOLD   50 - 52     1.7 - 1.8       FILM   59 - 61     2.0 - 2.1       BLOW MOLD   53 - 55     1.8 - 1.9       HMW-HDPE           BLOW MOLDING   60 - 62     2.1       FILM   63 - 65     2.2       PIPE   67 - 69     2.3 - 2.4       UHMW-PE  100 - 125    3.6 - 3.7       PPE/PPO BASED RESIN           INJECTION   180     6.8       20% GLASSh   283     12.3       30% GLASSh   291     13.3       EXTRUSIONh   242     9.2       STRUCT FM   231     NAd       PPS           40% GLASS   340 - 385     20 - 23       55% GLASS/MINERAL   275 - 295     18       65% GLASS/MINERAL   205 - 260     15 - 19       POLYPROPYLENE (RAILCAR)           G-P HOMOPOL INJECTION   45 - 47     1.5 - 1.6       EXTRUSION FIBER   44 - 46     1.4 - 1.5       PROFILES   46 - 49     1.5 - 1.6       RANDOM COPOL               BLOW MOLDING   50 - 52     1.6 - 1.7       FILM   48 - 52     1.6 - 1.7       INJECTION   47 - 49     1.6       IMPACT COPOL               MED IMP   60 - 63     1.9       HI IMP   63 - 66     1.9 - 2.0       POLYSTYRENE (RAILCAR)           G-P CRYSTAL   43 - 45     1.6       HI HEAT   44 - 47     1.6 - 1.7       HIPS   46 - 49     1.7 - 1.8       SUPER HI IMP   58 - 62     2.2 - 2.3       FR   81 - 92     3.0 - 3.5       STRUCT FM (FR)   91 - 93     na       EPS           UNMODIFIED   74 - 78     NAd       MODIFIED   78 - 89     NAd       POLYSULFONE  425 - 500    19 - 22.3       10% GLASS 430 20.6   600     28.       30% GLASS 372 20.01   550     25.9       POLYURETHANE (TP)           ESTER TYPE   185 - 255     8 - 11       ETHER TYPE   245 - 295     10.6 - 13       PU ISOCYANATES           POLYMERIC MDI   105 - 115     NAd       80/20 TDI   110 - 120     NAd       PVC RESIN (RAILCAR)           G-P HOMOPOL   33 - 36     NAd       PIPE   31 - 32     NAd       FILM   42 - 42     NAd       COPOLYMER FLOORING   44 - 46     NAd       DISPERSION HOMOPOLY   56 - 60     NAd       COPOLYMER   60 - 64     NAd       CPVC PIPE COMPOUND   119     NAd       PVDC           EXTRUDABLE   162     NAd       SILICONES           MOLD. COMP.   581 - 640     38.1 - 39.3       SPECIALTY GR.   891 - 3148     NAd       SILICONE/EPOXY   339 - 343     22.5 - 22.8       STYRENEACRYLIC  108 - 112    3.7 - 4.0       SAN (G-P)  66 - 74    2.5 - 2.8       STYRENE MALEIC ANHYDRIDE           G-P   110 - 115     4.2 - 4.3       HI IMP   130 - 140     4.2 - 4.5       FR   175 - 183     6.7 - 7.0       TP ELASTOMERS           OLEFINIC   70 - 76     2.4       POLYAMIDE   287 - 337     10.4 - 12.3       POLYESTER   200 - 310     8.8 - 13.6       STYRENIC   82 - 237     2.9 - 8.3       UREA MOLDING COMPOUND           BLACK & BROWN   67 - 78     3.6 - 4.1       WHITE & IVORY   72     3.8       VINYL ESTER           COR RES   147     NAd       HEAT & COR RES   161     NAd

KEY: Colored areas indicate pricing activity. An arrow () indicates direction of price change. aTruckload, unless otherwise specified. bUnfilled, natural color, unless otherwise specified. cBased on typical or average density. dNot applicable. eNovolac and anhydride grades for coils, bushings, transformers. fNovolac and anhydride grades for resisitors, capacitors, diodes. gIn quantities of 20,000 lb. h19,800-lb load.