North America
SE Asia’s indefinite PE shutdowns: A market in crisis as demand woes threaten survival
The previous decade’s optimism about sustained demand growth fueled ambitious capacity expansions across Asia’s polyolefin markets. But the landscape has shifted dramatically. Post-pandemic economic bottlenecks, soaring costs, and shifting consumption patterns amid aging populations have upended the industry’s trajectory. Now, a wave of indefinite PE plant shutdowns across Southeast Asia underscores the deepening crisis, as producers battle poor margins, oversupply, and an uncertain future... 17-02-2025Türkiye’s PPH markets perform better than copolymers in February
PP prices recorded additional hikes in February, driven by tight Saudi Arabian supply amid shutdowns and heavy sales earlier. Supply constraints, combined with cost support, were reflected in both import and local homo-PP markets, pushing prices higher and fueling active buying interest. However, copolymers faced continued pressure from competitively-priced prompt materials and sluggish demand, limiting price increase attempts... 14-02-2025Margin recovery priorities outweigh supply imbalances in European PVC markets
European PVC markets are experiencing a resurgence in February, driven by strategic margin-enhancement efforts, as several key players have implemented price increases of up to €40-50/ton. This followed a period of modest price concessions by late Q4 given excess supplies, with February ethylene settlement providing suppliers with the leverage to raise PVC offers... 13-02-2025Asian PVC demand stagnant; recovery hopes shift to end of Q1
The Indian budget has failed to provide a bullish push to Asian import PVC markets, with stability reigning in India and Southeast Asia for the fourth consecutive week and in China for the third week in a row. Despite the conclusion of the Chinese New Year holidays, bullish sentiment remains elusive as buying activity continues to stagnate, while hopes for a demand recovery now shift to late Q1... 12-02-2025