Standard Thermoplastics in February 2010: Further massive increases for polyolefins / PVC producers pass on higher costs / PS margins improve / EPS stagnates / Supply tends tight / Upward price trend set to continue

摘要

After frantically scrambling to push notations up into January, producers continued efforts in February, so western European buyers of standard thermoplastics again had to dig very deep into their pockets. Polyolefin producers managed to secure rises of EUR 70-100/t, with triple-digit increases soon becoming the rule. They took advantage of the slump in imports to squeeze better margins out of their own reduced output. PVC suppliers also succeeded in netting an increase, but in this case it was only enough to cover the higher cost of C2 and they were still dogged by poor margins.