This week's Resin Market Moves covers the defining market dynamic of April 2026: every major resin category is moving higher at the same time, all driven by the same upstream cost stack. PE, PP, ABS, PS, PC, PVC, PET, PA6, and PA66 are all under upward pricing pressure — and the window to influence Q2 outcomes is narrowing fast.
Michael Workman, CMO of ResinSmart, walks through what's actually driving April nominations across the full resin portfolio, explains why the mid-week crude oil pullback tied to the US-Iran ceasefire doesn't change the structural setup, and lays out the three things that consistently separate buyers who protect margins in this kind of environment from those who don't.
He also draws on Joel Petersen's framework for conducting effective negotiations — and explains why the resin supplier call you're about to have is won or lost before you pick up the phone.
If your benchmark is still a published index, this episode is for you.
Topics covered:
PE nominations up to $0.30/lb for April with $0.20/lb already on the table for May
— PP PGP feedstock dynamics and overlapping PDH outages
— ABS, PS, and PC moving on benzene
— PET tracking the April PX contract to ~82.5 cents/lb
— PVC turnaround season tightening spot supply through May
— PA6 and PA66 cost floor under soft demand
— What the US-Iran ceasefire means and doesn't mean for buyers
— Preparation as the primary determinant of negotiation outcomes
— The difference between a supplier's position and their interest
— Why timing is information and the Q2 window is closing
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.
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