Price Reports August 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 August 2025: Oversupply exerts considerable pressure on prices / Demand remains weak / Inexpensive imports often boost supply / Little movement expected across the board in September

PE: Imports countered the plant cutbacks instigated by European polyethylene producers. Throughout August, a slight surplus prevailed on the market. Because of the weak call-offs in the holiday period, only few producers endeavoured to keep prices stable. The fall of EUR 10/t in the ethylene contract in August became the guideline for the market as a whole. The production cutbacks failed to help. The competition from aggressively priced imports exerted massive pressure on European producers, which is why some suppliers emphasised a willingness to engage in additional negotiations. In September, producers are expected to try and restore their eroded margins. They are likely to insist on passing through at least the higher ethylene costs (EUR 5/t) and may even push for additional price increases. Converters, however, are expected to counter this. In addition, the PIE price panel does not anticipate any improvement in their order-book situation in the near future. This means that demand is likely to remain at a low level.

PP: Prices for polypropylene fell again in August 2025 after largely moving sideways in the two previous months. Initial attempts by producers to keep prices stable once more did not bear fruit. In August, the fall in the propylene reference (down by EUR 10/t) very quickly served as a guideline for determining the discount level. Often, however, not even that was enough – for PP homopolymer and injection moulding types in particular, the discounts could also be somewhat higher. The reason for this lay in the very weak demand. Purchasing needs that were already low were further dampened by the lull in orders due to the summer holiday season. Even recent problems with production facilities did not affect the ample supply situation. Aggressively priced imports entered the European market in large volumes. There are only a few signs of change for September. Now that the C3 contract has been fixed at a rollover, PP prices are also likely to trend sideways. As long as imports continue to flow, there should be more than enough material on the market. Processors’ order books also remain sparsely filled despite the end of the summer holiday season.

PVC: In August, PVC prices remained virtually unchanged for a further month. While numerous transactions were based on the reduction in the cost of ethylene (down EUR 10/t), a number of producers lowered their prices still further as part of special deals. Supply exceeded demand, even if only slightly. The largest customer, the construction industry, remained weak. Call-offs from the automotive segment were similarly few and far between. The main holiday season further dampened demand. Little change is expected in September. The slight uptick for ethylene (up EUR 5/t) in the month could provide some measure of upward momentum for PVC prices. However, there is no evidence of any stimuli that would noticeably improve demand by the end of the year. Only in the case of exports could the latest developments in India have an impact – European producers are exempt from the antidumping duties that the country has imposed on PVC imports, including those from the US and China. At least one supplier looks to be using this situation to “restore” their ailing margins somewhat and has already announced price increases.

Styrenics: In August, styrenics prices trended downwards for the fifth month in a row. Prices came under pressure due to a further drop in the styrene reference contract (down EUR 35/t) and already weak demand, which was further dampened by the peak holiday season. However, margins for many producers have become so severely eroded that they balked at passing on the cost reduction in full. This approach proved largely successful for polystyrene, partially so for ABS, and only rarely for EPS. All prices for PS, EPS, and ABS are now at their lowest level since February 2021. As a result, they have also fallen below the price levels established following the excesses of 2021 and 2022. However, the end of the line has not yet been reached. Styrenics prices are likely to decline again in September, following another decrease in the styrene contract price in the final month of the third quarter (down EUR 46/t). Processors are likely to insist on further reductions because, while demand is expected to pick up somewhat as the holiday season draws to a close, it is expected to remain far below the previous normal levels.

PET: As anticipated, the European PET market remained sluggish in August 2025. Activity was highly subdued, and European producers could not even remotely think of raising prices. At the same time, they had no reason to implement significant reductions either, despite the availability of favourably priced imports. Lowering quotations further would have done little to revive the weak demand. This was evident from the fact that, aside from occasional special offers, import warehouses remained generally full – clear evidence of a lack of meaningful purchasing activity. In the end, the modest price increases seen in July were ultimately reversed, as forecast by PIE. The PX reference for August was fixed surprisingly early, with a slight reduction of EUR 10/t. Once again, no major momentum is in sight. Either a rollover or further marginal reductions can be expected.

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 August 2025: Demand very slack in holiday season / Supply ample at all times / Imports provide for additional price pressure

The few converters who were not on holiday were unable to be persuaded, even with larger discounts, to purchase more material. Things remained absolutely calm on the markets. Producers’ stocks were well filled and every order from converters could be dealt with very quickly. In addition, the influx of imports meant that the supply situation was good at all times. Due to the holiday period, there were no positive signals from the automotive sector. Converters exerted caution amid the ongoing economic misery.

In September, too, the pressure on prices is set to remain alongside a minor improvement in demand. As a consequence, the stimulation of ordering activity through price cuts is likely to go into the next round. Even if sales activity rises, supply is still plentiful. Here and there, converters may want to top up their inventories after the holiday period. Many members of the PIE price panel have, however, already given up hope for the rest of the year – or at least corrected their forecasts downwards.

Only a few converters from the panel are planning to build up stocks. On top of this, there is often only a marginal improvement in orders from the market. All in all, many would like to have a magic wand to end this year and trigger a new start.

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 August 2025: Producers insist on price hikes in vain / Quotations trend lower again – except for TDI / Demand expected to improve in September

Negotiations in August centred on the weak demand situation. However, neither producers warning that they urgently need stability nor the slight increase in the benzene contract for August (up EUR 16/t) had any impact. The oversupply could not be ignored and sent prices plummeting once again. Only TDI was an exception. Here, Covestro’s force majeure ensured that quotations remained largely stable.

The market was sufficiently supplied at all times with material from European production and imports from Asia. Some processors, mostly from the construction sector, described demand as background noise. The rest of the industry was, for all intents and purposes, on summer holiday.

Suppliers will likely try to raise prices again next month. As PIE panellists expect demand to pick up, especially from the automotive and construction sectors, there could be slight increases in prices in some cases. However, the market is still far from normal levels.

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 August 2025: Slight reductions for resins and glass fibres / Prices bottoming out in September / Positive forecast for demand

Weak demand and a further reduction in the styrene contract (down EUR 35/t) pushed resin prices further downward on average. However, some producers were able to maintain their prices, indicating a trend towards stabilisation on the market as a whole.

Resins are likely to experience a cautious upturn in the weeks to come. Both producers and converters are seeing slightly more demand in their order books. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go before reaching normal levels – i.e. those seen prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. Although the styrene contract for September has fallen by a further EUR 46/t, the majority of PIE price panellists expect either a rollover or only slight reductions for the coming month.

Due to continued large-scale imports of low-priced glass fibre and weak demand during the summer holiday period, reported glass fibre grades saw a slight softening again in August. In pricing discussions, the European Union’s anti-dumping investigation was no longer a central topic. Both producers and converters appear to have settled on their strategies.

In anticipation of stronger demand after the summer break, many converters expect a more stable pricing environment for glass fibre. While a few processors may still be able to secure slight price reductions, most will likely face a rollover.

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 August 2025: Prices remain at previous month's level / Recyclers experience eroded margins / Little improvement expected for September

The situation on the market for standard recyclates remains difficult. Even inexpensive first-use material and meagre demand did not exert enough pressure to persuade suppliers to adjust prices across the board. For the most part, quotations remained at the previous month’s level. But that was no real consolation for recyclers because their margins are being eroded by high purchasing costs.

Recyclers responded to the summer holiday period with significant production curbs in order to prevent a further increase in their inventory. Some of them briefly shut down their lines for maintenance work. There was no momentum during the summer holiday period, which kept purchases at a low level. Still, there was no further significant slump in demand.

With the end of the summer holiday season in Europe, ordering activity should improve slightly. However, in view of favourable prices for first-use material, it seems unlikely that this will be enough to continue the trend in quotations. Prices are not expected to move much in September, either. Supply is likely to significantly exceed demand – making it impossible for some recyclers to pass on costs as they would need to. There is still room for more in processors’ order books. However, even if purchases increase slightly again, demand is still below normal levels.

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 August 2025: Prices continue to fall / Sluggish demand from automotive, E&E / Imports from Asia put recyclers under further pressure

In August so far, recycling companies have been confronted with a tense market situation. Weak demand, in combination with aggressively priced imports of virgin material from Asia, have forced many companies to adjust prices significantly downwards. Cutbacks in the output of production lines were not enough to prevent a surplus situation on the market. The influx of Asian material was rather strong. Demand weakened further due to the holiday season. Some converters organised company holidays or reduced the number of production shifts.

There are, however, initial signs for ordering activity to increase after the holidays. Recyclers are expected to try and keep prices stable, but in view of the significant surplus on the market, minor price adjustments cannot be ruled out. Nevertheless, the situation overall seems to have more or less bottomed out.

Even if demand brightens up after the holidays, availability is unlikely to suffer. Imports are likely to continue to arrive on a large scale. Apart from that, some European recycling companies still have well-filled stocks. Market players anticipate orders to settle down at the normal, spring level. However, there are no signs that point to a fundamental recovery before the end of 2025.

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!