The Plastic Resin Buyer Brief

In this episode of Resin Market Moves, Michael Workman, Executive Director of ResinSmart, walks through the key risks shaping the North American plastic resin market in early 2026.

Rather than a demand-led recovery, markets are being driven by:
  • supply discipline in polyethylene
  • feedstock volatility in polypropylene
  • cost push without demand support in polystyrene
  • rising raw material costs beneath stable pricing in ABS and polycarbonate
  • early supplier initiatives in nylons
  • and continued buyer leverage in PET
Michael also shares insights from MD&M West 2026, where medical device manufacturers emphasized the high cost of pricing surprises in regulated, long-cycle environments — and why benchmarking is becoming the preferred first step.

This episode focuses on risk, structure, and discipline, not price predictions — and offers a framework buyers can use to navigate 2026 with confidence.

What is The Plastic Resin Buyer Brief?

If you buy plastic resin for a living, this podcast is your edge. Hosted by the experts behind ResinSmart, The Plastic Resin Buyer Brief gives you fast, focused updates on the market forces moving resin prices—and the strategies that smart buyers are using to save money, reduce risk, and make better decisions.

No fluff. No filler. Just the information you actually need—delivered by sourcing pros who’ve managed billions in resin spend.

Subscribe now to stay ahead of the curve in polyethylene, polypropylene, and beyond.

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