Standard thermoplastics: Producers pass on most cost reductions / Polyethylene film margins squeezed further/ Supply and demand balanced / Polypropylene sales largely sluggish / December could be calmer

摘要

In November 2011, most European buyers of standard thermoplastics managed to secure price cuts across the board in line with producers' cost reductions of EUR 20/t for ethylene, EUR 55/t for propylene, EUR 24/t for styrene monomer and EUR 90/t for PX. For polyethylene - in particular the LDPE and LLDPE film grades - converters wiped out what likely were the last high-margin gains producers enjoyed last spring. EVA continued moving back to normal following its long-term high. PVC declined by slightly more than the cost reduction.