Polymer Prices – Polymer Prices Under Pressure

20.10.2025

Polymer prices under pressure

The prices of “commodity” polymers were affected by the following factors last week:
• BRENT oil price (10.10.2025) 62.730 USD/barrel, decreasing prices compared to the end of the previous week
• NAPHTHA European; (10.10.2025) 527.96 USD/t, down from the end of the previous week,
• October contract monomer prices:
- Ethylene (C2) contract price: roll-over (1,130 EUR/t),
- Propylene (C3) contract price: roll-over (1,005 EUR/t),
- Styrene monomer (SM) contract price: -51 EUR/t (1,205 EUR/t),

• Dutch TTF Gas Futures (10.10.2025) 31.91 EUR/Mwh, stagnant prices compared to the end of the previous week,
• EUR/USD (10.10.2025): 1.161, weakening euro compared to the previous week,
• Polymer capacity news
- Persistent production problems
 Karpatneftekhim (Kalush, unplanned shutdown, HDPE 110 kt/year capacity)
- Ongoing maintenance/outages/malfunctions:
- Expected maintenance/shutdowns:
- Unplanned shutdowns:
 Grupa Azoty Polyolefins, unplanned shutdown (Police, Poland, 430 kt/y PP capacity affected). No news yet about a restart.
 MOL Petrochemical FM, (220 kt/year HDPE capacity affected).
 BOP unplanned shutdown in Plock (320 kt/year and HDPE capacity and concerned). Restart is expected within 1-2 weeks.

Although the "K-Fair" exhibition in Düsseldorf is taking place in a good mood with high attendance, one of the reasons for the good mood is that both converters and polymer manufacturers are faced with the fact that their competitors are not in a better position either. Demand remains weak and prices are falling. While polyolefins are experiencing the usual continuous price erosion, polystyrene prices have fallen to depths not seen since 2020; the cheapest polystyrene (GPPS) prices are already below €1,100/t. Only PVC can still show stability, but even in this case there is great pressure to reduce prices. Low virgin polymer prices are also pushing down the prices of regranulates.

The large number of non-European polymer suppliers at the K-Fair clearly showed that the role of imports is important and will become increasingly important in Europe. Although newly released statistics show that European virgin polymer production will not decline further in 2024, this can be seen as a temporary pause rather than the end of the process. The European chemical industry is still unable to find the key to competitiveness. In 2026, several European polymer plants are expected to close, and the decline in polymer production will continue.

However, looking at current prices, it is clear that price erosion continues, despite the fact that more and more importers and European manufacturers have said: this is the bottom. In the case of polyolefins, the lower value of the price bands has already reached or is close to the minimum; a decrease is expected mainly in the upper value of the price bands and in average prices. The cheapest prices are usually associated with non-European grades. However, importers are increasingly faced with the fact that the risk of loss of imported goods has increased due to long, sometimes 90-day "lead times" and continuously falling European prices. Moreover, demand in Europe is traditionally extremely weak between November 15 and January 15. Thus, we expect fewer imported polymers to arrive in the coming months, and some of the incoming ones will not be immediately released to the market, but will rather wait in warehouses for the price trend to turn.

Low prices only benefit plastics converters temporarily. Converters only pass on price reductions to their customers with a delay, so the polymer price reduction shows improved profitability. However, polymer stocks in the warehouse, in addition to falling prices, result in continuous losses, and in the event of a polymer price increase, raising prices will be a problem.

According to the majority of market participants, a turnaround in polymer prices is not expected in 2025; a visible increase in demand would be necessary for a turnaround. This is not visible yet. Converters are hoping that some kind of improvement and recovery in demand will start from March 2026 at the latest.

In the second week of October, LDPE prices were between €920 and €1,050/t. The lower value of the price band decreased compared to the previous week. There is a lot of selling pressure, with rumors of indications of a buyer price close to or even below €900. So far, European LDPE producers are not yet at this price level. But due to weak demand, only smaller lots can be sold for prices above €1,000. For multiple truckloads, expect a price well below €1,000.

In the second week of October, the total price range in the MFR 0.6-1 transparent/translucent segment was € 750-850/t. Both the lower and upper values of the price band decreased compared to the previous week. Falling virgin prices are putting pressure on prices while demand is weak. Recyclers still in business are forced to cut prices.

Prices for grades with lower MFRs below 0.6 ≥, typically based on PIR, ranged from €800 to €950/t. The lower value of the price band has decreased due to falling virgin prices.

Typically priced between €1,270 - €1,400 for large quantities of low gel count, semi-virgin LDPE grades, which are available on a continuous basis, list prices are unchanged from the previous week, but Italian trade sources have reported that some European manufacturers have been destocking at extremely depressed prices below €1,000 in September.

In the second week of October, HDPE prices in Central Europe were between €850 and €1,050/t. The price range has not changed from the previous week. However, sales above €1,000 are only possible for products that are in short supply on the market (bimodal FILM and BM grades). The most commonly used grades are available on the import market, and there is a significant oversupply on the market, which is exerting downward pressure on prices on the European market.

In the second week of October, Central European HDPE-100 (Black & colored) prices were between €1,060 and €1,170 per ton. The majority of sales in the past week have been close to or below €1,100.

Buyer price indications are deep below €1,100. Otherwise, the season and demand are not bad, but the general HDPE price decline is taking over the markets.

In the second week of October, LLDPEC4 prices were between €850-990/t. The price is unchanged from the previous week, but average prices are falling steadily. Converters would like to buy below 900 euros, but in many cases they are faced with the fact that immediate availability at this price level is limited. This low price level applies at most to en route stocks or Western European port prices. But demand is still low.

In the second week of October,(m)LLDPE (C6) prices were between €850 and €1,300/t. The price of undoped LLDPE C6 was 850-1,020 €/t, while the price of mLLDPE was in a range of 1,050-1,300 €/t. There are also prices close to €1,000 for metallocene grades from imported sources. North American manufacturers say this is the bottom, they can no longer sell cheaper to the European market and they don't want to. Typically, present and future prices are mixed. Converters are arguing with suppliers with the prices of the batches arriving in November, thus trying to achieve lower prices now in October.

In the second week of October, PPH Raffia prices were in the €870-1,000/t price range. The price range has not changed from the previous week. The lower end of the price range is the price range for South Central European manufacturers. Average prices have continued to decline over the past week, typically below €950. Demand is good for thermoforming grades, weak for woven and non-woven textile grades.
The BOPP grades were priced between € 870 and € 940/t. The information on the cheapest price comes from a converter, as it is very low so it is possible that it is just a price indication.

In the second week of October, the prices of PPH IM non-specialty grades with low and medium melt flow index were in a range of 890-1,030 €/t and the prices of PPH IM with high melt flow index were in a range of 890- 1,050 €/t. The lower value of the price range fell below 900 euros. They were mostly selling for around €950. Demand for end products is weak, with converters reporting a decline in demand exceeding 20% in many cases.

In the second week of October PPC prices were in a range of 950-1,150 €/t in Central-Europe. Both the lower and upper values of the price band decreased compared to the previous week. With weak demand, there is significant price pressure. Prices close to 900 euros were also heard at the "K-Fair", but these were mostly special prices for imported items arriving in November. They are not typical of the market as a whole. European polymer manufacturers say this is the bottom, they can't go any lower. Despite this, they were also characterized by significant price elasticity last week.

In the second week of October, the typical prices of MFI (8-15, 15-20) re-granulates (PCR) of good quality, homogeneous color and narrow flow index range were in a range of €550-950/t. The lower value of the price band decreased compared to the previous week.

PIR-based MFI (25-35) grades were priced between €800 and €950/t. Both the lower and upper values of the price band decreased compared to the previous week.

Due to weak demand and falling virgin PP prices, recyclers are also bringing their prices down.

In the second week of October, PPR prices were between €990 and €1,200/t. The price band has changed compared to the previous week. Demand is weak, with a minor recovery expected only in Poland, due to the expected increase in demand for Christmas herring packaging.

The prices of colored pipe compounds were in the price range of €1,350-1,460/t, with the lower end of the price range decreasing due to the increasing price elasticity of some polymer producers.

In the second week of October, typical EPS (white) prices were in the range of €1,200-1,300/t. The cheapest prices are expected to drop below €1,200 next week. Prices close to 1,300 euros are only occurring at one European polymer manufacturer, but these are expected to decrease next week. Demand is not bad, the insulation season is underway, but polymer manufacturers have unsold stocks and imports are also ongoing.

In the second week of October, GPPS prices were between €1,050-1,250/t, with the cheapest prices in the Baltic States for imported grades. Typical HIPS prices were between €1,120 and €1,350 per ton. The lower value of the price bands decreased significantly for both product grades. European manufacturers have implemented large price cuts, partly due to significant import pressure and partly due to weak demand. There are also rumors of very cheap GPPS extrusion grade offers of close to €1,000. So it is likely that prices will fall further in the weeks ahead.

In the second week of October, natural ABS prices were between €1,450 and €1,700/t. The lower value of the price band decreased compared to the previous week. Importers have reduced their prices and are expected to reduce them further. Due to the decline in European industrial production, demand is extremely weak, and European manufacturers are also flexible in pricing.

In the second week of October, prices for Central European virgin PET Bottle grades were between €800-910/ton. The lower end of the price band has decreased compared to the previous week. The cheapest grade was imported from outside Europe. Only in some cases did European manufacturers' prices remain above €900. However, by the end of October, these prices will likely disappear.

For rPET granules, prices for the European 'clear food-grades' ranged from €1,400 to €1,700 per ton, depending on quality. Turkish import grades were available at €1,300/t while Far Eastern grades were available at €1,200/t.

Prices of transparent rPET flakes: were between €1,220 and €1,300/t. Compared to the previous week, the price range has not changed.

For color blended rPET flakes, prices ranged from €500 to €600/t.

In the second week of October, European PVC (K67-68) prices were between €810 and €920 per ton. Both the lower and upper values of the price band decreased compared to the previous week. Despite the fact that European PVC producers basically insist on roll-over, the price reduction is due to their flexibility. Demand remains weak. The demand and management problems are illustrated by the fact that the vast majority of Western European PVC manufacturers did not exhibit at K-Fair. So far, prices have not fallen below €800, but there are reports of buyer price indications of €770-780.

Author: MyCEPPI