As the plastics industry closes out 2025, resin buyers are entering a critical planning window for 2026. In this episode of Resin Market Brief, Michael Workman and Kevin Mekaru break down what the data actually says about where resin markets are headed — and how buyers should be preparing.
This is not a headline-driven forecast. It’s a practical, buyer-focused discussion on signals vs. noise, why most resin forecasts miss, and how to use forward-looking intelligence to reduce risk and improve negotiation leverage.
What We Cover in This Episode
• Why resin forecasting is so difficult — and why traditional models fail
• The difference between real market signals and market noise
• Why starting with real transaction data matters more than index movement
• How ResinSmart and RTi build rolling, quarterly forecasts
• Why confidence ranges matter more than point predictions
2026 Resin Outlook by Polymer Family
• Polyethylene (PE): Balanced to soft early 2026 with tightening risk mid-year
• Polypropylene (PP): Near cycle bottom with Q1–Q2 tightening risk tied to PDH reliability
• PET: Balanced demand with regional volatility and evolving import dynamics
• Polystyrene (PS): Feedstock-driven noise, weak demand limits upside
• PVC: Structurally weak entering 2026; housing demand remains the key driver
• Engineering Resins (ABS, PC, PA6/66): Flat to slightly down early, selective volatility later
Key Takeaway for Resin Buyers
Forecasting isn’t about certainty — it’s about preparation.
The buyers who win in 2026 will be the ones who:
- benchmark fair pricing early,
- re-forecast quarterly,
- separate supplier narratives from real market conditions, and
- use forecasts as a negotiation and planning tool — not a crystal ball.
This episode is designed to help processors plan with confidence instead of reaction.
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
Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/resin-technology-inc
Watch episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@RTiGetResinSmart