E-Weekly
Jul 27th, 2007                                Print this article

The Plastics Exchange Week in Review

By Modern Plastics Editorial Staff

Trading volume for polyethylene (PE) on The Plastics Exchange (TPE; Chicago) was much higher with steady-to-weak prices (for more information, including detailed, historical charts, go to www.theplasticsexchange.com). On a busy Monday, stoked in part by held over export demand, a number of orders was filled at prices $0.015-$0.02/lb higher than late June. Spot ethylene prices were steady, holding above $0.45/lb, with spot monomer contracts up $0.04/lb thus far in July. Quality spot railcars of injection-grade high-density PE have been available in the mid-to-high $0.50’s/lb, with blowmolding grades going in the high $0.50’s/lb. TPE reports that spot offers for high-molecular-weight film grades are in the mid-$0.60’s/lb, with linear-low butene in the mid $0.50’s/lb for bulk railcars.

TPE says that spot trading of polypropylene (PP) exhibited average volume with the price high and holding. Domestic generic prime railcar prices were in the low $0.60’s/lb, while homopolymer export cars were in the high $0.50’s/lb. Propylene monomer has been pushed up by demand for the chemical as an octane booster for fuels. Propylene contracts settled up $0.0075/lb, which should push up PP prices. Producers are interested in raising prices $0.03-$0.04/lb in July and August.

Polystyrene (PS) spot-trading volume was average, with steady prices, according to TPE. Offgrade railcars of high-impact and general-purpose PS were offered in the lower $0.70’s/lb, with generic prime a few cents higher. Benzene was up again, eclipsing $3.75/gallon, helping push styrene monomer to around $0.60/lb.

Front Page