Even multiple production hiccups couldn’t move this resin market.
As we enter mid-Q4, the theme is clear across North America: flat pricing, weak demand, and oversupply.
In this week’s Resin Market Moves, Michael breaks down what’s really happening across the major resin families — and what it means for buyers trying to hold the line on costs.
Resin Market Highlights:
Polyethylene (PE):
Dow, ExxonMobil, and CP Chem reported short-lived production issues, but inventories remain near record highs.
October’s proposed +3–5¢/lb increases? Still unlikely to stick.
Polypropylene (PP):
Feedstock propylene (PGP) crashed below $0.25/lb, the lowest since 2022.
No margin increases announced — weak fundamentals continue.
Polystyrene (PS):
Feedstocks fell sharply, with benzene down nearly $0.50/gal, pushing PS contracts lower again.
ABS & Polycarbonate (PC):
Stable to slightly soft. Auto sector improving, but not enough to move pricing.
Sabic’s +10¢ ABS increase for November faces buyer resistance.
PVC:
Still sluggish. Construction remains slow, with high inventories and no October increase nominations.
PET:
Flat for September and early October, though producers continue testing +6–9¢/lb increases. Market data doesn’t support it.
Key Takeaway:
Feedstocks are easing. Inventories are heavy.
And producer price-increase letters are running on fumes.
Now is the time for buyers to stay disciplined, benchmark their pricing, and push back with confidence.
That’s what ResinSmart was built for — real-time resin benchmarking, forecasting, and market transparency for processors who are tired of guessing.
Learn more or request a benchmark demo: https://www.ResinSmart.ai Follow Michael Workman on LinkedIn for weekly
Resin Market Moves updates.
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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.
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