Asia’s olefins sector is likely to remain under pressure in 2026, with poor profitability continuing to dominate the ethylene and propylene value chains. Structural oversupply, weak downstream demand, volatile feedstock costs, and increased geopolitical risks will weigh on margins across the region. Producers are likely to rely on supply discipline, including run-rate cuts and extended shutdowns, to mitigate losses...
Following eight consecutive months of declines that dragged prices to their lowest levels since the pandemic era, the European PS market has finally reversed course in December. The change of direction was driven by the €21/ton increase in the styrene contract, although gains remained limited given persistently weak demand and the dampening impact of approaching year-end...
Brazil’s preliminary anti-dumping duty (ADD) on US-origin PE, in effect since August 29, 2025, has so far failed to meaningfully curb US PE inflows. ChemOrbis Stats Wizard imports for January–November 2025 show that shipments from the United States remained broadly resilient, while market feedback suggests that the stronger impact will be felt from November onward, when buyers started adjusting expectations for much higher definitive duties anticipated in early 2026...
PP is set to enter 2026 on a slightly firmer note after one of the most bearish years in recent memory. What began as a supply-led rally in early 2025 quickly gave way to a prolonged downside correction, shaped by weak derivative demand, aggressive pricing from new capacities, geopolitical shocks, a US-led tariff war, and rare but abrupt swings in upstream costs...
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