The Plastic Resin Buyer Brief

H1 2026 was one of the most active nomination environments in recent memory — north of 90 proposed increases across commodity and engineering resins in a single quarter. The justification was consistent: feedstock costs, supply disruptions, force majeure. Some of that was real. A lot of the ask on top of it wasn't.

In this episode, we break down what H1 actually looked like from the buyer's side — what was proposed, what settled, and the gap between them where buyers who had data won. Then we walk through the mid-year review framework that separates the programs entering H2 with leverage from the ones running blind.

Topics covered:
  • The H1 nomination wave: scope, patterns, and justification language
  • Cost pressure vs. pricing power — why the distinction matters in every conversation
  • Where buyers pushed back and won — and why the data made the difference
  • The four-question mid-year review framework
  • H2 outlook: feedstocks, forward exposure, what Q3 nominations likely look like
  • What to do before the next wave arrives
Guest: Michael Workman, Executive Director, ResinSmart | Powered by RTi Global
Register: "Stop Negotiating Blind" — Plastics News Webinar, July 22, 12:30 PM CT 
https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1768507&tp_key=3e20608168

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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