Engineering Polymers - Europe April 2016
by ChemOrbis Editorial Team - content@chemorbis.com
Month: April 2016
PC prices followed a mostly stable trend in April. Even though some players reported sharp increases from their suppliers, deals were closed mainly with rollovers. A buyer reported that his Taiwanese supplier was seeking increases of $100-120/ton citing reduced supply and higher production costs, but his prices were too high compared to other producers so they failed to attract buying interest. The majority of players expect stable prices for May, but some of them do not exclude the possibility of new hike attempts from producers.
PA6 prices registered increases of around €80-100/ton in April while PA6,6 prices were reported with rollovers to €60/ton increases from March. Benzene contracts settled up €93/ton from March at €616/ton. March caprolactam contracts were agreed with decreases of €15-20/ton from February. Supply is ample for both products and a buyer reported that demand has improved this month. Players stated that buyers paid smaller hikes on deals for PA6 while many PA6,6 deals were closed with rollovers, particularly on the high ends of the range, following initial hike requests. Players are anticipating smaller increases in May for PA6 compared to this month while no major changes are awaited for PA6,6.
Producers announced hikes of €50-80/ton on their April SAN prices after the styrene contracts were settled up €95/ton from March. A buyer reported that his Taiwanese producer was aiming for increases of $150/ton from March, pointing to higher feedstock costs. Supply is said to be sufficient and in balance with demand. Further increases are awaited for May depending on styrene contracts, but in smaller amounts with respect to April.
EPS prices faced upward pressure for another month in April following the increase of €95/ton registered by styrene contracts. Increases of €80-100/ton were applied on EPS prices for April. According to buyers, producers received support from the seasonal improvement in demand in this period of the year. Supply is said to be adequate while a buyer reported that his South European supplier is yet to resume operations at their plant after a fire broke out in February. According to the buyer, the producer might not resume their deliveries until May. Some players are hoping for stabilization in May following the strong hikes recorded over the past two months. However, others do not exclude the possibility of slight increases in line with the May styrene contracts, which are awaited with increases between €20-50/ton from April.
PMMA prices tracked a stable trend for another month in April. A buyer is projecting a stable outlook until the end of the year while he believes that producers might lower their prices in late 2016 depending on their stock levels. A seller stated that offers from Far East Asia are competitive, adding that they are increasing in number. The seller believes that the outlook is mostly stable for the second quarter, but he does not exclude the possibility of slight price variations, especially for the May-June period. Supply and demand are in balance.
POM and PBT prices remained unchanged from the previous month. Supply and demand dynamics are in balance and the outlook is steady.
Price ranges reported include an average freight cost to the customers’ location as well as duties if applicable, although VAT is not included.
| Month: April 2016 | ||
| €/ton | €/ton | |
| Polymer | Min | Max |
| EPS | 1325 | 1400 |
| PA 6 | 1500 | 1700 |
| PA 6,6 | 2110 | 2300 |
| PC | 2100 | 2400 |
| SAN | 1650 | 1880 |
| PBT | 1870 | 2200 |
| POM | 1300 | 1450 |
| PMMA | 2050 | 2400 |
PC prices followed a mostly stable trend in April. Even though some players reported sharp increases from their suppliers, deals were closed mainly with rollovers. A buyer reported that his Taiwanese supplier was seeking increases of $100-120/ton citing reduced supply and higher production costs, but his prices were too high compared to other producers so they failed to attract buying interest. The majority of players expect stable prices for May, but some of them do not exclude the possibility of new hike attempts from producers.
PA6 prices registered increases of around €80-100/ton in April while PA6,6 prices were reported with rollovers to €60/ton increases from March. Benzene contracts settled up €93/ton from March at €616/ton. March caprolactam contracts were agreed with decreases of €15-20/ton from February. Supply is ample for both products and a buyer reported that demand has improved this month. Players stated that buyers paid smaller hikes on deals for PA6 while many PA6,6 deals were closed with rollovers, particularly on the high ends of the range, following initial hike requests. Players are anticipating smaller increases in May for PA6 compared to this month while no major changes are awaited for PA6,6.
Producers announced hikes of €50-80/ton on their April SAN prices after the styrene contracts were settled up €95/ton from March. A buyer reported that his Taiwanese producer was aiming for increases of $150/ton from March, pointing to higher feedstock costs. Supply is said to be sufficient and in balance with demand. Further increases are awaited for May depending on styrene contracts, but in smaller amounts with respect to April.
EPS prices faced upward pressure for another month in April following the increase of €95/ton registered by styrene contracts. Increases of €80-100/ton were applied on EPS prices for April. According to buyers, producers received support from the seasonal improvement in demand in this period of the year. Supply is said to be adequate while a buyer reported that his South European supplier is yet to resume operations at their plant after a fire broke out in February. According to the buyer, the producer might not resume their deliveries until May. Some players are hoping for stabilization in May following the strong hikes recorded over the past two months. However, others do not exclude the possibility of slight increases in line with the May styrene contracts, which are awaited with increases between €20-50/ton from April.
PMMA prices tracked a stable trend for another month in April. A buyer is projecting a stable outlook until the end of the year while he believes that producers might lower their prices in late 2016 depending on their stock levels. A seller stated that offers from Far East Asia are competitive, adding that they are increasing in number. The seller believes that the outlook is mostly stable for the second quarter, but he does not exclude the possibility of slight price variations, especially for the May-June period. Supply and demand are in balance.
POM and PBT prices remained unchanged from the previous month. Supply and demand dynamics are in balance and the outlook is steady.
Price ranges reported include an average freight cost to the customers’ location as well as duties if applicable, although VAT is not included.
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