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Commodity Prices Up Sharply

Resin makers have taken the gloves off on price increases for many commodity materials.

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Recession or no recession, resin makers have taken the gloves off on price increases for many commodity materials. Rising feedstock prices are taking the blame.

 

PE PRICES UP

Polyethylene prices rose 3¢/lb in May and were expected to gain another 3¢/lb in June. The London Metal Exchange (LME) North American short-term futures contract in blown-film butene LLDPE traded at 41¢/lb for July, up from 38¢ for June.

Contributing factors: One factor in rising prices was low inventories for ethylene monomer, as producers throttled down production. Spot monomer prices rose from 21¢/lb in May to 25¢ in June. May contract prices were flat, but June prices were likely to rise. Thus, PE suppliers are likely to push hard for the 3¢ June hike.

Domestic PE demand showed some improvement from May into June. Says Mike Burns, global business director for PE at purchasing consultant Resin Technology Inc. (RTI), Fort Worth, Texas, "We are not talking about robust orders, but better than in the first quarter. However, surging export activity halted in June."

 

PP PRICES RISE

Polypropylene prices moved up 2.5¢ to 3¢/lb in May, and suppliers issued hikes averaging 10¢/lb for June 1. Meanwhile, the LME short-term futures contract in g-p injection-grade homopolymer rose to 40¢/lb for July from 37¢ for June.

Contributing factors: Rising propylene monomer prices ended three to four months of relative stability in the PP market. May monomer contract prices moved up 2.5¢/lb. June contracts were poised to jump 8.5¢ to 40¢/lb. "You can expect PP resin prices to move up at least 8.5¢ by the end of June," says Scott Newell, RTI's director of client services for PP. Newell foresees prices of both monomer and resin moving up a bit in July, based on very tight supplies for both, particularly monomer. Higher PP prices have already curtailed previous export activity, while domestic PP demand is still off by 15%, according to Newell.

 

3¢ MORE FOR PVC

Some PVC buyers saw a 1.5¢ increase in May, which was half of what resin producers were seeking initially. Suppliers then posted a 3¢ hike for June and announced a further 3¢/lb hike for July 1. CDI, however, estimated only 1.5¢ for the June hike.

Contributing factors: Processors and resin producers see an uptick in demand, but they all view it as restocking by large buyers who had exhausted their inventories, not as reflecting real demand.

 

MORE PS HIKES ANNOUNCED

Polystyrene producers tried for 4¢ in May, but appear to have gotten only 2¢, after some suppliers told customers they would defer half the hike to June. PS makers had already posted a 3¢ increase for June 1 but are considered unlikely to get 5¢ total. Resin producers have all announced a further 5¢ increase for July 1.

Contributing factors: Benzene contract prices shot up in June to $2.34/gal from $1.90 in May. Some seasonal uptick was expected for summer gasoline production, but benzene rose higher and faster than expected, leading PS producers to announce the July hikes. PS producers expect benzene to rise again in July.

 

PET GOES UP, TOO

Bottle-grade PET prices moved up 2¢ to 3¢/lb in June, in partial implementation of the May 1 hikes of 5¢ to 6¢. July prices are expected to be flat.

Contributing factors: Resin prices got a push from feedstocks. Paraxylene rose 5.5¢/lb in the second quarter and peaked at 49.5¢ in May. June contract prices were expected to move up to around 50.5¢. Ethylene glycol tabs in June increased to 28.1¢/lb from May's 26.3¢, but no change was expected for July. Says a source at a major PET producer, "We got the 2¢ to 3¢ increase because of the uptick in feedstock prices. Also, we are in the summer 'beverage season,' and we are seeing some increase in demand. We expect prices for feedstocks and resin to be flat."

Last year was the first year that PET showed negative growth in demand—a 3.8% decline from 2007. Until then, PET had grown 6% to 7%/yr. For 2009, industry sources project demand to hold even or decline slightly.

 

NYLON & THERMOSETS UP

After Honeywell Resins and Chemicals announced a 10¢/lb hike in nylon for May 11, Rhodia came out with a 12% increase at the end of May, and DSM raised nylon 6 tabs 10¢ on June 15.

After AOC hiked unsaturated polyesters and gel coats by 5¢ on June 1, CCP and Interplastic followed with 5¢ higher tabs for July. 

 

Market Prices Effective Mid-June A

 
 
 RESIN GRADEb¢/LB¢/CU INc

 ABS 
  

  
 
 MED IMPACT   90 - 110     340 - 412    
 HI IMPACT   95 - 130     359 - 491    
 X-HI IMPACT   110 - 150     415 - 567    
 HI HEAT   90 - 125     340 - 472    
 PIPE   85 - 95     321 - 359    
 SHEET   90 - 105     340 - 397    
 TRANSPARENT   134 - 205     506 - 774    
 FITTINGS   94 - 115     355 - 434    
 PLATING   165     623    
 FLAME RET   120 - 140     453 - 529    
 STRUCT FM   92 - 102     347 - 385    
 10% GLASS   134 - 145     506 - 548    
 30% GLASS   129 - 141     487    
 ABS/PC ALLOY   154 - 185     532 - 699    
 ABS/PVC ALLOY   139 - 144     525 - 544    
 ABS/NYLON ALLOY   199 - 355     752 - 1341    

 ACETAL 

  

  
 
 HOMOPOL   151 - 172     7.7 - 8.7    
 20% GLASS   171 - 235     8.7 - 11.9    
 COPOLYMER   144 - 160     7.3 - 8.1    
 25% GLASS   171 - 245     8.7 - 12.4    

 ACRYLIC 

  

  
 
 G-P   117     5.0    
 IMPACT   192     8.2    

 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   189     8.2    
 CAP   189     8.2    

 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   69 - 71     2.3 - 2.4    
 FILM EXTRU   67 - 69     2.3    

 EVOH 

330   

15   
 

 FLUORO-POLYMER 

  

  
 
 CTFE   5000 - 6000     385 - 462    
 ECTFE   1200 - 1680     90.7 - 120    
 ETFE   1205 - 1730     80.7 - 115.8    
 FEP   971 - 1470     74.8 - 113.2    
 PFA   1550 - 2520     120 - 195    
 PTFE   500 - 950     33.5 - 63.6    
 PVDF   750 - 1200     48 - 76.9    

 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   139 - 159     5.7 - 6.5    
 MIN FILLED   131 - 144     5.4 - 5.9    
 30% GLASS   148 - 173     6.0 - 7.0    
 TYPE 66   153 - 168     6.3 - 6.9    
 MIN FILLED   151 - 159     6.2 - 6.5    
 30% GLASS   142 - 192     5.8 - 7.9    
 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   650 - 750     24.3 - 28    
 30% GLASS   NAd - NAd     NAd - NAd    
 40% GLASS   NAd - NAd     NAd - NAd    
 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 

75   

3.8   
 
 REINFORCED GRADES   105 - 268     6.1 - 16    

 POLYAMIDE-IMIDEg 

  

  
 
 UNFILLED   2750     148.5    
 30% GLASS   2500     135    
 30% CARBON FIB.   3500     185    

 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   158 - 173     7.9    
 20% GLASS   164 - 181     8.2    
 30% GLASS   165 - 207     9.3    
 EXTRUSION   133 - 171     7.7    
 BLOW MOLD   138 - 176     7.5    
 STRUCT FOAM   137 - 172     7.8    
 20% GLASS   219 - 243     11.0    
 FR   153 - 188     8.5    
 CD   124 - 186     8.4    

 POLYESTER (TP) PBT TYPE 

  

  
 
 UNFILLED   145 - 150     6.8 - 7.3    
 HI-IMP   165 - 175     7.8 - 8.3    
 30% GLASS, FR   195 - 215     9.2 - 10.1    
 STRUCT FOAM   159 - 165     NAd    

 PET 

  

  
 
 BOTTLE (RAILCAR)   76 - 80 Prices Went Up  
  3.8 - 3.9 Prices Went Up  
 
 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    

 POLYESTER THERMOSET 

  

  
 
 G-P ORTHO   151 - 162     NAd    
 ISOPHTHALIC   175 - 196     NAd    
 BIS-A   210 - 235     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   53 - 55 Prices Went Up  
  1.7 - 1.8 Prices Went Up  
 
 INJECTION   55 - 57 Prices Went Up  
  1.8 - 1.9 Prices Went Up  
 
 LID RESIN   58 - 60 Prices Went Up  
  1.9 Prices Went Up  
 
 LINER   55 - 57 Prices Went Up  
  1.8 - 1.9 Prices Went Up  
 
 CLARITY   51 - 53 Prices Went Up  
  1.7 Prices Went Up  
 
 EXTRU COATG   56 - 58 Prices Went Up  
  1.9 Prices Went Up  
 
 BLOW MOLD   58 - 60 Prices Went Up  
  1.9 - 2.0 Prices Went Up  
 

 LLDPE, BUTENE BASED 

  

  
 
 G-P MOLDING   58 - 60 Prices Went Up  
  1.9 - 2.0 Prices Went Up  
 
 LME 30-DAYj   41 Prices Went Up  
  1.5 Prices Went Up  
 
 FILM   55 - 57 Prices Went Up  
  1.8 - 1.9 Prices Went Up  
 
 ROTOMOLD   52 - 54 Prices Went Up  
  1.7 Prices Went Up  
 

 LLDPE, HAO-BASED 

  

  
 
 G-P MOLDING   53 - 55 Prices Went Up  
  1.7 - 1.8 Prices Went Up  
 
 LID RESIN   63 - 65 Prices Went Up  
  2.0 - 2.1 Prices Went Up  
 
 LINER FILM   56 - 58 Prices Went Up  
  1.9 Prices Went Up  
 

 HDPE 

  

  
 
 G-P INJ MOLD   53 - 55 Prices Went Up  
  1.8 Prices Went Up  
 
 FILM   60 - 62 Prices Went Up  
  2.0 Prices Went Up  
 
 BLOW MOLD   61 - 63 Prices Went Up  
  2.0 Prices Went Up  
 

 HMW-HDPE 

  

  
 
 BLOW MOLDING   57 - 59 Prices Went Up  
  1.9 Prices Went Up  
 
 FILM   58 - 60 Prices Went Up  
  1.9 - 2.0 Prices Went Up  
 
 PIPE   65 - 67 Prices Went Up  
  2.1 Prices Went Up  
 

 UHMW-PE 

1.22 - 1.52   

4.1 - 5.1   
 

 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   450 - 520     27.0 - 31.2    
 55% GLASS/MINERAL   345 - 420     22.7 - 27.7    
 65% GLASS/MINERAL   270 - 315     18.9 - 22.1    

 POLYPROPYLENE (RAILCAR) 

  

  
 
 G-P HOMOPOL INJECTION   49 - 51 Prices Went Up  
  1.6 Prices Went Up  
 
 LME 30-DAYj   40 Prices Went Up  
  1.3 Prices Went Up  
 
 EXTRUSION FIBER   47 - 49 Prices Went Up  
  1.5 - 1.6 Prices Went Up  
 
 PROFILES   55 - 57 Prices Went Up  
  1.7 - 1.8 Prices Went Up  
 
 RANDOM COPOL          
 BLOW MOLDING   53 - 55 Prices Went Up  
  1.7 Prices Went Up  
 
 FILM   53 - 55 Prices Went Up  
  1.7 Prices Went Up  
 
 INJECTION   52 - 54 Prices Went Up  
  1.7 Prices Went Up  
 
 IMPACT COPOL          
 MED IMP   63 - 65 Prices Went Up  
  2.0 - 2.1 Prices Went Up  
 
 HI IMP   65 - 67 Prices Went Up  
  2.1 Prices Went Up  
 

 POLYSTYRENE (RAILCAR) 

  

  
 
 G-P CRYSTAL   61 - 67 Prices Went Up  
  2.3 - 2.5 Prices Went Up  
 
 HI HEAT   64 - 69 Prices Went Up  
  2.4 - 2.6 Prices Went Up  
 
 HIPS   70 - 76 Prices Went Up  
  2.6 - 2.8 Prices Went Up  
 
 SUPER HI IMP   77 - 84 Prices Went Up  
  2.9 - 3.1 Prices Went Up  
 
 FR   80 - 85 Prices Went Up  
  3.0 - 3.2 Prices Went Up  
 
 STRUCT FM (FR)   66 - 68     2.5    

 EPS 

  

  
 
 UNMODIFIED   85 - 88     NAd    
 MODIFIED   86 - 90     NAd    

 POLYSULFONE 

650 - 750   

29 - 33   
 
 10% GLASS 430 20.6   799 - 875     36 - 39    
 30% GLASS 372 20.01   699 - 775     31 - 35    

 POLYURETHANE (TP) 

  

  
 
 ESTER TYPE   185 - 255     8 - 11    
 ETHER TYPE   245 - 295     10.6 - 13    

 PU ISOCYANATES 

  

  
 
 POLYMERIC MDI   125 - 145     NAd    
 80/20 TDI   135 - 145     NAd    

 PVC RESIN (RAILCAR) 

  

  
 
 G-P HOMOPOL   48 - 50     NAd    
 PIPE   47     NAd    
 FILM   53     NAd    
 COPOLYMER FLOORING   71 - 74     NAd    
 DISPERSION HOMOPOLY   81 - 87     NAd    
 COPOLYMER   86 - 90     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) 

80 - 88   

3.0 - 3.3   
 

 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   300 - 350     10.9 - 12.7    
 POLYESTER   200 - 310     8.8 - 13.6    
 STYRENIC   82 - 237     2.9 - 8.3    

 UREA MOLDING COMPOUND 

  

  
 
 BLACK & BROWN          
 WHITE & IVORY          

 VINYL ESTER 

  

  
 
 COR RES   221 - 245     NAd    
 HEAT & COR RES   246 - 258     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. jLME 30-day futures contract for lots of 54,564 lb..

 

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