Price Reports April 2025

The following information is provided by Plastics Information Europe.  For more than 35 years, PIE has been an invaluable source of information for European plastics industry decision makers - a quick, yet in-depth look at the development of plastics markets and polymer prices. Available online 24/7 and as a printed newsletter twice a month. To read entire versions of the following reports, go to www.pieweb.com and sign up for a 48-hour free trial!

  Standard thermoplastics April 2025: Trend reversal in prices initiated at start of second quarter / No economic improvement, order activity remains at low level

PE: In April, the European C2 contract declined by EUR 55/t. However, because of the chaos with customs tariffs initiated by US President Donald Trump, producers refrained from adjusting their prices in the first half of the month. In extreme cases, they even called for triple-digit increases. The pause on the tariffs then made the entire enterprise obsolete. Demand remained at such a low level that even the reduced rate of production was entirely adequate. By the end of the month, there were at least a few minor price cuts. What was also striking in April was the significant increase in complaints from converters about supply difficulties with purchased materials. There were evidently breakdowns in the logistics chain over the Easter holidays, especially with silo vehicles, so that consignments often failed to arrive at the company or at least not in the originally ordered quantities. For May, the downtrend in quotations is set to witness a distinct increase as the month’s EUR 70/t decline for ethylene is projected to trigger a notable drop in polymer prices. Even towards the end of April, there were rumours on the market of triple-digit reductions. On the other hand, there is little sign of any revival in ordering activity.

PP: In April, the price of propylene fell by a hefty EUR 55/t. As a result, significant price adjustments for polypropylene were also made in most cases. Suppliers initially tried to retain some of the discount from the precursor in the first half of the month but then reduced their prices correspondingly at the end of the month. There was no shortage of material in Europe. Despite ongoing production cutbacks and unplanned plant shutdowns, processors were able to cover their requirements with ease. In any case, demand remained low due to the Easter holidays and the sluggish economic climate. The downward trend is likely to gain momentum in the following month. The C3 contract was also fixed at a large minus in May: the reference price is lower by EUR 70/t. Meanwhile, processors do not expect their ordering situation to improve in the low-production month packed with public holidays. This seems to indicate further discounts for polymers.

PVC: Despite the falling ethylene costs (down EUR 55/t), producers attempted to achieve a rollover at the start of the month. They didn’t succeed in this, however, and quotations dropped noticeably in the course of April. Reductions of up to EUR 10/t were negotiated for S-PVC in most cases, while the decreases for E-PVC were somewhat higher. Supply in Europe remained balanced. The expected easing of the supply situation failed to materialise and, in addition to cutbacks in output, the production landscape was affected by a number of forces majeures – one of which was only short-lived. One producer also stopped production again shortly after the completion of maintenance work. Maintenance at another plant continued on into April. Demand remained subdued. While the order situation improved in some cases, the reduced number of production days due to the Easter holidays kept ordering activity at a low level. The bleak situation in the construction industry and the ailing automotive sector made life difficult for a number of converters. The fall in naphtha costs is now also putting further pressure on the ethylene contract. This is set to result in a downward price trend for all PVC types in May.

Styrenics: The upward movement has come to an end. In April, the price of styrenics fell for the first time in three months. This was primarily due to the reduced cost of raw materials, especially styrene. In the case of polystyrene, the extent of the price reductions was governed by the fall in the SM reference (down EUR 58/t). For ABS, too, prices essentially followed the drop in the composite costs (SM down EUR 58/t, butadiene up EUR 20/t, ACN down EUR 92/t). The situation for EPS was slightly less clear again, with considerable differences between the various suppliers. Since a number of producers had to purchase styrene at higher prices on the spot markets, their price reductions were considerably lower. Some backwards-integrated producers took advantage of the situation to improve their margins and only passed on part of the price reduction for SM, while others passed the reduction on to the market in full. In May as well, cost developments are set to determine the price direction – at least in the case of PS and ABS – with particular consideration being given to the price reductions for styrene of EUR 40/t, butadiene of EUR 60/t, and ACN of EUR 104/t. In the case of EPS, highly heterogeneous pricing is likely once more due to the market situation as described above.

PET: Demand on the European PET market remained weak in April. The end markets provided little impetus. Increasing import volumes were on offer, putting pressure on prices, with the significant decline in the US dollar also a contributory factor. Buyers thus had no difficulty in waiting with their purchases, despite the sharply curtailed output of the European production lines. This inevitably put pressure on prices. Overall, reductions of around EUR 30/t were necessary to secure the minimum volume of sales. The good weather at the end of April has prompted some hope of an improvement in May. But even if this turns out to be the case, the falling PX trends – the reference contract for April had not been concluded at press time – will scarcely permit any major jumps. On the contrary, a further price drop could result in the same order of magnitude as before.

For more than 35 years, PIE has been an invaluable source of information for European plastics industry decision makers - a quick, yet in-depth look at the development of plastics markets and polymer prices. Available online 24/7 and as a printed newsletter twice a month. To read the entire report, go to www.ki.de and sign up for a 48-hour free trial!

  Engineering thermoplastics April 2025: Solid supply with weak demand and increased imports / Order slump expected to continue in May

Subdued demand and a certain lack of orientation as to how demand would develop were reflected in the contracts reported. From discounts in the three-digit range to rollovers and markups, such as for PMMA, everything was included. Contracts finalised at the beginning of the month remained at a rollover for the most part. The longer April lasted, the higher the price declines became.

For almost all grades, the output of European plants offered an adequate, solid supply, although production was mostly curtailed. Increased imports from South Korea and China ensured that contracts were fulfilled. The PIE price panel reported the first, early maintenance work. Processors continued to buy only minimally. The construction season did show a little more demand here and there. However, it was not enough for larger stock replenishments.

European producers are expected to continue feeling the effects of weak demand and competitive prices from East Asia next month. However, quarterly contracts are likely to keep prices stable for the most part. Customers plan to push through further price reductions. Compounders might thus react by restricting supply in order to support quotations. Neither automotive nor E&E or construction might really be able to boost demand. The already prevailing wait-and-see attitude of processors remains.

For more than 35 years, PIE has been an invaluable source of information for European plastics industry decision makers - a quick, yet in-depth look at the development of plastics markets and polymer prices. Available online 24/7 and as a printed newsletter twice a month. To read the entire report, go to www.ki.de and sign up for a 48-hour free trial!

 Polyurethane feedstocks April 2025: Prices between rollover and small uptick / Demand remains weak / US punitive tariffs drive exports from Asia to Europe

The upward price trend for isocyanates has ended. In most cases, processors were able to completely fend off or at least significantly reduce the markups demanded by producers. The panel’s reported prices were between a rollover and an increase of EUR 60/t. The reason given for the low level of agreements was weak demand. The availability of material on the market was satisfactory. More and more low-cost imports from Asia reached Europe. The ordering situation for processors remained weak.

Sluggish demand and increased imports will continue to put pressure on quotations in the coming month. The first slight price reductions are likely. Once again, demand will be noticeably below normal.

The prevailing wind for polyol prices has turned more quickly than expected. Following the cancellation of a force majeure and the noticeable reduction in supply problems for other producers, there was more than enough material on the market. Contracts were fulfilled satisfactorily at all times. The first imports came ashore. More material will follow in May. This is due not least to the tariff policy of US President Donald Trump.

For more than 35 years, PIE has been an invaluable source of information for European plastics industry decision makers - a quick, yet in-depth look at the development of plastics markets and polymer prices. Available online 24/7 and as a printed newsletter twice a month. To read the entire report, go to www.ki.de and sign up for a 48-hour free trial!

 Polyurethane feedstocks April 2025: Prices between rollover and small uptick / Demand remains weak / US punitive tariffs drive exports from Asia to Europe

The upward price trend for isocyanates has ended. In most cases, processors were able to completely fend off or at least significantly reduce the markups demanded by producers. The panel’s reported prices were between a rollover and an increase of EUR 60/t. The reason given for the low level of agreements was weak demand. The availability of material on the market was satisfactory. More and more low-cost imports from Asia reached Europe. The ordering situation for processors remained weak.

Sluggish demand and increased imports will continue to put pressure on quotations in the coming month. The first slight price reductions are likely. Once again, demand will be noticeably below normal.

The prevailing wind for polyol prices has turned more quickly than expected. Following the cancellation of a force majeure and the noticeable reduction in supply problems for other producers, there was more than enough material on the market. Contracts were fulfilled satisfactorily at all times. The first imports came ashore. More material will follow in May. This is due not least to the tariff policy of US President Donald Trump.

For more than 35 years, PIE has been an invaluable source of information for European plastics industry decision makers - a quick, yet in-depth look at the development of plastics markets and polymer prices. Available online 24/7 and as a printed newsletter twice a month. To read the entire report, go to www.ki.de and sign up for a 48-hour free trial!

  Composites/GRP April 2025: Downward trend for resins, glass fibres set to remain unchanged / Order situation still at rock bottom

In April, resin prices reacted to the price drop for the main precursor styrene with the usual time lag. The largely unchanged contracts for maleic and phthalic anhydride had only a slight stabilising effect. This trend is set to continue following the further reduction in May – or at least this is what the majority of converters are expecting.

No signs of supply constraints are evident despite European plants running at reduced capacity. At the same time, increasing volumes of imports are arriving. Demand remains weak overall. Converters report slightly more orders from the commercial vehicle industry, but fewer from the leisure sector.

Glass fibre products – with the exception of assembled roving – also underwent slight reductions in April due to a trend towards oversupply. Converters only bought what they knew they needed, given the economic outlook. If prices continue to fall, inventory replenishments could be seen in May, and these could stabilise prices again in the following weeks.

For more than 35 years, PIE has been an invaluable source of information for European plastics industry decision makers - a quick, yet in-depth look at the development of plastics markets and polymer prices. Available online 24/7 and as a printed newsletter twice a month. To read the entire report, go to www.ki.de and sign up for a 48-hour free trial!

 Standard recyclate April 2025: Demand increases slightly but no sign of a turnaround / Recyclers still under strong cost pressure / Small boom in PET market

There were only small signs of a spring revival, even if recyclers were often able to adjust prices upwards in the Easter month. Considering their run-down margins, this was vital for some of them. Purchase agreements could be fulfilled at all times, even though recyclers are still not running their lines at full capacity. There was no substantial improvement in order activity. Only branded companies placed robust orders. Some processors took advantage of Easter to carry out maintenance work or even shut down for company holidays.

However, all this doesn’t change the fact that recyclers’ purchase costs are high and are set to remain so in the foreseeable future. Therefore, they might once again try to transfer them to customers in May. Further, slight price increases are on the table, and are a likely outcome of negotiations.

For rPET clear, the high season has finally taken off. Prices for clear bottle scrap skyrocketed, and recyclate prices followed in the slipstream. Suppliers were finally able to reduce stocks. They even had to increase capacity utilisation in order to meet demand. However, the April upturn is probably just a short-lived Easter egg. PIE panellists do not expect a similar dynamic in the following month. The recyclers still hope they will be able to increase prices further. This is because demand is likely to grow a little despite the public holidays in May.

For more than 35 years, PIE has been an invaluable source of information for European plastics industry decision makers - a quick, yet in-depth look at the development of plastics markets and polymer prices. Available online 24/7 and as a printed newsletter twice a month. To read the entire report, go to www.ki.de and sign up for a 48-hour free trial!

 Engineering recyclate April 2025: Demand hobbles along like a wounded animal / Prices surprisingly stable

Once again, plenty of material left Asia for Europe, and demand plodded along. Recyclers nevertheless managed to keep prices largely stable. The holidays around Easter put a damper on production volumes, and many recyclers took advantage of the time to run maintenance on their plants. Stocks were adequately available, anyway. The weak order-book situation of the two main customer segments, auto production and E&E, in addition to the Easter holidays, kept ordering activity at a low level.

In May, there will probably not be much going on. Because of the slack ordering from main customer industries, converters are still insecure and are ordering only what they absolutely need. In order to obtain acceptable sales figures, producers will need to make concessions.

As long as inventories remain as high as they are now, recyclers will continue with the cutbacks of their production lines. In view of the May holidays, there are no signs of a stimulus on the demand side. On the contrary, the threat of US tariffs is fuelling fresh uncertainties. This, too, is putting a damper on ordering activity.

For more than 35 years, PIE has been an invaluable source of information for European plastics industry decision makers - a quick, yet in-depth look at the development of plastics markets and polymer prices. Available online 24/7 and as a printed newsletter twice a month. To read the entire report, go to www.ki.de and sign up for a 48-hour free trial!