PCW Adds PS to its Weeklies Just as a Reverse Trajectory Emerges

Moving into the third week of August, PetroChemWire (PCW) added polystyrene (PS) to its weekly reports just as August contracts appeared to have rolled over and one supplier issued a 2¢/lb hike, effective Sept. 1. This driven by higher spot benzene and styrene monomer prices and relatively balanced supply, according to Senior Editor Dave Barry.

Meanwhile, the PCW weekly reports on PP and PVC indicate any price relief is unlikely in the near term, while PE prices may possibly roll over and not move up despite suppliers’ intentions. Here are key takeways from these weeklies and from the Aug. 18 market update of The Plastics Exchange.

PP: PCW’s Barry for one, does not see any price relief for PP from falling monomer prices in the near term as there’s industry talk of tighter monomer supply, along with indications that the month of August would show healthy domestic demand—amid relatively snug supply. PP spot prices were flat-to-higher. Plastics Exchange CEO Michael Greenberg noted that spot PP prices moved up 1¢/lb as spot monomer prices continued to firm up to a level that he noted supports a 2¢/lb cost-push price increase. As previously reported, PP suppliers have called for a 3¢/lb price increase for August, in addition to any change in the August monomer contract price, yet to be settled.

When some resin buyers look at industry numbers showing an increase in PVC demand this year, they can’t figure out where the resin is going.

PVC: PCW’s senior editor Donna Todd did not see much potential for any PVC price relief next month, just as the 1¢/lb decrease that was hoped for by converters in July/August did not materialize following consecutive ethylene price decreases. Now, spot ethylene prices are climbing and the outage at Formosa’s VCM plant at Point Comfort, Texas appears to be playing a bigger role—industry talk has it that the plant will not be back on line until the end of September, and not fully up and running till sometime in October.

Todd described the PVC market as being “deep in the dog days of summer.” She noted that pipe converters characterized orders and shipments as good one day and bad the next. Some reported a slower month than July while others characterized demand as subdued throughout the summer. Overall, PVC buyers appear to be less optimistic that things will pick up in the fall, as they had expected better demand by now. “When some resin buyers look at industry numbers showing an increase in PVC demand this year, they can’t figure out where the resin is going,” Todd noted.

The big “if” is how quickly will full output be achieved by the new production units slated for startup next month.

PE: Suppliers continued to be intent on implementing a 3¢/lb increase this month for PE, though supply/demand fundamentals do not support an increase, according to both PCW’s Barry and Plastics Exchange’s Greenberg. Barry reported no new support for the 4¢/lb increase, effective Sept. 1 announced by two suppliers. Both described the PE spot market demand as lackluster amidst flat-to-higher price offers.

The big “if” is how quickly will full output be achieved by the new production units slated for startup next month. Noted Barry,“There was talk that the new capacity might not have much effect on the prime market until late October or November.” Similar reporting came from Greenberg, “Although over-reaching supply/demand dynamics do not necessarily support a price increase, there are also whispers indicating possible delays in the aforementioned new production, and stranger things have happened. We are generally a little early on market timing and we remain neutral at best, with thoughts of some softness ahead.”