Early 2026 is not behaving like a typical resin cycle.
Polyethylene inventories surged nearly 289MM pounds — yet producers are pushing price increases.
Polypropylene is seeing feedstock pressure.
Polystyrene is reacting to benzene spikes.
PVC is tightening due to turnaround season.
PET remains weak — for now.
So what’s real?
In this episode of Resin Market Brief, Michael Workman explains:
- Why inventory builds don’t automatically mean price relief
- How feedstock reliability is quietly driving polypropylene
- Why engineered resins look stable on the surface — but aren’t underneath
- The structural risks resin buyers face in 2026
- And how forecasting frameworks must evolve to defend decisions
This episode expands on our recent webinar:
“Why Resin Forecasts Break & How Buyers Defend Them.”
If you’re responsible for resin procurement, margin protection, or portfolio performance, this conversation will sharpen how you interpret today’s market signals.
Visit ResinSmart.ai to explore tools that turn signal into strategy.
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.
Learn more: www.resinsmart.ai
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