Price Reports September 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 September 2025: Little to no market movement / Prices remain unchanged, demand shows no signs of recovery / Only slight upturn in order activity expected for October

PE: In the course of the latest negotiations, producers were unable to factor in the small increase of EUR 5/t in the cost of the ethylene. With most PE grades, the surplus in supply that was triggered above all by substantial imports from Asia and the US led to falling prices. The packaging segment, however, provided a glimmer of hope, which in some cases has been generating solid ordering activity thanks to food and pharmaceuticals. For October, there are signs of greater price stability. On the one hand, the feedstock rolled over and was fixed at its previous month’s level. On the other, there was some optimism in the PIE panel discussions that demand could pick up again, albeit with a delay. Because of the C2 rollover, experts expect October’s negotiations to focus less on a single month and more on the entire year 2026. Negotiated volumes and sales in the final quarter are likely to stay modest, so some producers may try to shift the discussion to next year in hopes of securing the sales they are aiming for. At the upcoming K plastics trade fair in Düsseldorf, the mood is expected to be rather subdued – most players do not anticipate a significant and sustained recovery in demand before the second half of 2026.

PP: By the middle of the month, nothing remained of producers’ initial intention to raise prices. As demand showed little sign of picking up, the previous month’s special deals were increasingly carried over into the negotiations for September. Producers prioritised volume over price. As a result, despite the rollover for the precursor propylene, there were often downward adjustments into the mid-double-digit range. The market remained oversupplied. This was mainly due to the continued flow of imports, and even the production problems of one producer – who declared FM during the month – did not change anything. According to figures from the European statistics authority Eurostat, imports into the EU27 already amount to around 990,000 t for the current year. Few processors felt any urgency to purchase materials. Even after the summer holidays, the order situation remained less than stellar. In most cases, only the bare essentials were purchased – and that really wasn’t much. The automotive industry failed to make a comeback after the summer break. At least there were a few sparse impulses from the project business of the E&E segment. The C3 contract for October was fixed at the previous month’s level. As the market fundamentals are unlikely to change much, prices are expected to remain stable or decline slightly. There is still a hint of optimism among processors. A small number of panellists expect demand to increase again in October. This means that the level could “improve” from catastrophic to only poor.

PVC: Prices for PVC remained more or less stable in September. While a number of European producers initially asked for increases of up to EUR 50/t, based on the slight rise in the ethylene contract (up EUR 5/t), these ambitions came to nothing due to weak demand. Import volumes from abroad ensured that supply was more than sufficient, despite pronounced cutbacks at European plants, while the construction industry and automotive sector were once again unable to stimulate demand. Most transactions thus remained at rollover level. In some cases, prices were even adjusted slightly downwards. The mood is likely to be subdued in October at the world’s leading K trade fair. No one is expecting any momentum that could prompt hopes of a pickup in demand again. Many PVC producers have significantly scaled back their involvement in this event on account of their economically difficult situation. Nevertheless, initial talks for 2026 will still be conducted at the trade fair. Certain producers who missed out on volume allocations to some extent this year will most likely strive to play a more prominent role in contract negotiations. Against this background, prices will trend sideways at best up to the end of the year, reflecting the ethylene contract, while price reductions are also likely for a number of agreements.

Styrenics: Prices keep sliding further down. Styrenics prices declined for the sixth month in a row in September 2025. As in previous months, declining feedstock costs and weak demand set the course for further discounts. At the beginning of the month, producers were still trying to retain some of the decreased costs in order to restore margins a little – albeit in vain. Soon, the price reductions for polystyrene and EPS were generally adjusted to the extent of the styrene reduction (down EUR 46/t). With slightly more variance in the agreements, ABS prices also largely followed the cost trend. For all styrenics, however, there were also purchase packages with non-generalisable special conditions from suppliers who wanted to increase sales volumes. Overall, demand remained very sluggish. The post-holiday pickup in demand was significantly lower than hoped and expected – positive stimuli are still nowhere to be seen. The complicated situation is not likely to change in October, either. Order activity remains slack and the styrene reference for October declined again (down EUR 51/t). In the wake of this, prices for styrenics will likely continue to trend downwards for a seventh consecutive month.

PET: The European PET market limped through September 2025. Struggling European producers were driven to the ropes in light of weak demand. Considerable concessions extending into the triple-digit range were necessary in order to sell anything at all. While imports were available, they failed to have a stimulating effect. Market conditions are unlikely to change any time soon. The PX reference price for September was only settled late, with the feedstock quoted at EUR 765/t – a further reduction of EUR 20/t. As a result, downward price pressure persists. Widespread triple-digit quotations would come as no surprise.

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 September 2025: Producers try to maintain prices / No real recovery in demand despite summer holiday end / Reductions expected in October

Despite well-filled stocks, producers across all grades tried to keep their prices at the previous level and to avoid having to make any further concessions. But they were not always successful. Nevertheless, the quarterly price agreements helped to keep quotations relatively stable. Producers continued to cut back their output of processable material mixtures, which led to fewer surpluses of base polymers. According to the PIE panel, however, the situation for finished materials has normalised.

There was sufficient material on the market to meet converters’ needs at all times. On the demand side, there were signs of a slight recovery as production resumed after the holiday period. Overall, though, the crisis in the automotive industry remains clearly noticeable. As with standard thermoplastics, the same applies to their engineering counterparts: a modest improvement in demand does not yet an autumn upswing make.

And how are things to continue in October? A price reduction at the turn of the quarter seems highly likely, with only the extent of the discounts still up for debate. Customers are pushing for significant price cuts, in some cases running into the triple digits. Producers are of course trying for much smaller reductions – and some of them are even looking completely in the opposite direction and calling for increases. An agreement before the start of the K 2025 trade fair is very unlikely. Sustained revivals in demand are likely to remain short and scarce, and more and more converters are considering cutting their workforce.

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 September 2025: TDI force majeure rattles the market – dramatic mark-ups scare off processors / Demand from construction, automotive likely to remain limited in early October

The otherwise mostly downward movements in the polyurethane sector were overshadowed by the dramatic development of TDI. The force majeure at Covestro in Dormagen, Germany – which had limited immediate consequences – has been shaking up the market, prices, and supply situation with increasing force since mid-August at the latest.

The enormous upward trend in TDI prices – which have reached the mark of EUR 1,000/t over the course of just two months – continued in September. In addition to this, there are initial and justified fears that allocations are to be expected after Covestro confirmed in response to a PIE query that the plant remains at a standstill. The market is already being described by panellists as “noticeably tight” – producers were accused of an “almost brutal will to restore margins” in discussions with processors. Imports are only having a very limited dampening effect.

The other PU precursors – MDI and polyols – recorded price changes ranging from rollovers to slight or significant discounts. Weak demand is keeping the market structure down, even if a small recovery in the ordering situation is expected here and there in the coming 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!

  Composites/GRP September 2025: Market calm, without momentum / No movement expected in next few weeks / Converters hold on to their money

In light of weak demand and low producer margins, prices for the reported medium-reactive ortho resins look set to bottom out. This was reflected in a number of rollovers reported during discussions with PIE price panellists. Scarcely any mention was made of the recently rumoured trend towards inventory replenishment following the summer holidays. Converters held on to their money and, in most cases, refrained from making advance purchases. That was the case not only for resins, but also for the glass fibre products reported on.

At the moment, none of the consumer sectors are experiencing a real increase in demand. While some indications have emerged of an upward trend here and there over the coming weeks, this could ultimately peter out again quite rapidly. The mix of uncertainty, favourable imports, and weak demand would seem to be too strong, and thus, prices are staying put. Given the lower price of styrene (down EUR 51/t), resins could, however, actually fall further, although there is probably not much scope left for this.

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 September 2025: Prices remain under pressure / Demand weakness perpetuates / Recyclers aim to keep prices stable in October

The downward trend of the past few months is carrying on. In September, the majority of recyclate prices were still heading in the same direction – further downwards. Prices only remained stable for rLDPE injection moulding grades and rHDPE pipe grades, but those were already at the bottom of the price range. All other prices declined.

Weak demand was identified as the main reason, as the interest in materials did not pick up as strongly as hoped after the holiday period, if at all. There was a lack of positive stimuli and for several materials, there was also competition from cheap off-spec virgin material. As a result, the market for many recyclates trended towards oversupply, even though production remained severely curtailed.

Even the “success” of rHDPE pipe grades – namely, maintaining the previous month’s price levels – is only an ostensible one. On closer inspection, the recyclers actually wanted to increase this segment’s prices to at least begin to factor in their increased costs. Ultimately, however, the valiant quest was abandoned, as processors blocked any demands for premiums.

The situation is unlikely to improve in October, as market parameters are unlikely to change much. On the plus side, demand for construction-related products is expected to increase slightly due to seasonal factors. However, this does not change the fact that demand remains weak overall, and the supply of recyclates tends to be abundant. What’s more, recyclers continue to face strong competition from favourable offers for primary material. Considering this, the recyclers aim to at least maintain the current price level for most materials – whether they will succeed is another matter entirely.

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 September 2025: No mood to buy, no orders / Demand remains low with prices mostly moving sideways

Recyclers had hoped demand would rebound after the summer holidays, but those hopes have been dashed. The generally muted buying mood and overall weak economy put a spanner in the works. On the supply side, everything remained the same. Production cutbacks did not affect availability, as large volumes of affordable imports continued to flow in from China. Suppliers had well-stocked warehouses anyway. Normal ordering and production levels remained a long way off.

So, what does the near future hold? Hardly anyone in the industry is still talking about a bottoming out. The feeling is that everyone will be happy when the year is over. Recyclers are expected to work hard to keep their prices stable at the least. However, the general sentiment is against them. With imports, stocked warehouses, and in-house production, there is really no shortage of material. But where is demand supposed to come from? Everyone is gloomy. In this sense, the industry acts as a sounding board for the general mood. No desire to buy translates to no orders. It’s as simple as that.

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!