Price know-how July 21

The situation on pricing continues to be complicated. The market for polymers continues to be complex as multiple factors act to greater, or lesser extent on pricing.

Is the situation on prices about to ease?

Polymer prices continue to skyrocket as demand continues to outstrip supply. As outlined in all three sector graphs that appear in this publication, the rate of price increase for polyolefins, [...]

For many in the industry the current state of affairs can only be described as shocking. Whilst feedstock cost is one of the key drivers of this exceptional situation, the lack of shipping [...]

Tight supply situation propels prices forward at an incredible rate. What began in December has skyrocketed through into March, leaving many converters amazed by yet another round of hefty price [...]

Supplied by Polyram Plastic Industries Ltd. RamClean® smart purging agents help reduce downtime and minimise scrap rate thanks to superior purging efficiency. Being compatible with almost any [...]

Alongside our monthly Price Know-how publication, at the beginning of every year we provide an assessment of what has happened over the past year and what may happen in the year ahead, [...]

New developmental Capilene SW 70 LE polypropylene impact copolymer resin provides a unique combination of very high flow, good stiffness – impact balance and low emissions that is favourable for [...]

A new polypropylene grade from Carmel Olefins offers outstanding processability, combined with mechanical and optical properties that are particularly suited to TWIM food packaging and consumer [...]

Plastribution are proud distributors of ExxonMobil’s Santoprene range of TPVs.

Santoprene thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are high-performance elastomers, which offer manufacturing [...]

Polymateria, an Advanced Technology Development Company based in London, have developed a next generation biodegradation solution together with Imperial College University London.

Mike Boswell, Managing Director of leading polymer distributor, Plastribution, provides an insight on a year like no other.

Read about the new Capilene CP71AV polypropylene resin from Carmel Olefins. Providing a unique combination of mechanical and optical properties, together with outstanding processability, it is [...]

To maximize polymer performance in final products by mixing polymers with different properties was the goal of RadiciGroup High Performance Polymers. The result is its new specialty range of [...]

With the advent of the 5G era, demand for higher product performance continues to increase, such as more flame retardant and heat resistant materials for communications applications. In response [...]

Exceed™ XP performance polymers offer a new benchmark for a broad range of applications that require eXtreme Performance. This portfolio of products enables converters to cost-effectively [...]

Light guides made from Plexiglas® lend a high-quality appearance to the new premium ATMs from Diebold Nixdorf. Whether in a pedestrian zone or in a shopping mall, advertisement boards are lit up [...]

Santoprene TPV grades from ExxonMobil come with all-weather resistance and long-lasting sealing performance for windows, door seals and gaskets, both in residential as in commercial buildings. [...]

When the recent pandemic hit and turned business-as-usual upside down, thermoplastics distributor, Plastribution, used the time to work on a long-held plan to ‘stretch’ its portfolio – adding a [...]

Total’s ambition for their polymers business is to be selling 30% recycled polymers by 2030, equating to 1 million tons per year in 2030. However, one of the big challenges facing recycling of [...]

When the polymer industry talks about finite resources it usually refers to oil and gas which are the key components in polymer production. However, there is one resource that the polymer [...]

What we experience as an unpleasant electrostatic shock in our everyday life, can cause complications or even dangerous situations in many industries. Electrostatic shocks, also known as [...]

In the current situation, medical, NHS support staff, teachers and other key workers are being told to bag up and immediately wash their clothing as soon as they return home. The demand for [...]

The plastic packaging tax, set to be implemented in April 2022, is aimed at increasing recycling levels by placing a tax on plastic packaging that contains below 30% recycled content. The tax is [...]

For more than four decades Plastribution’s vision, ‘to be the UK’s preferred supplier of plastic raw materials’, has been consistent. We've has been able to manage expectations by maintaining a [...]

On 16th October 2019 MD's Mike Boswell of Plastribution & Richard Cowling of Hellyar Plastics will run 10K at their 10th successive K-show since 1992, all to raise money for 'The Princes Trust'. [...]

Dr Rotem Shemesh, R&D and Customer Service Manager at Carmel Olefins, recently spent the day at the Plastribution offices providing technical training to our sales teams.  While she was here, [...]

There are numerous headlines in the newspapers at the moment around the misery the weak pound is causing for those holidaying abroad. The ‘hard Brexit’ rhetoric since Boris Johnson became Prime [...]

Counterfeit goods currently account for an estimated 7% of global trade, yet despite an increase in corporate and government spending to tackle the issue, their production and access to market is [...]

11 month's ago, one of our latest recruits on the apprenticeship scheme - Maya, joined our team. Maya has kindly written a blog piece to share some of her experiences so far regarding her life at [...]

‘Women in Plastics’ provide a platform for females in the plastics industry that are doing great work in every type of capacity. Recently, Plastribution Commercial Director Katherine White took [...]

‘Sustainable polymers’, ‘green polymers’ - however you refer to them, producing materials and products with the intention of causing minimal impact to our environment is perhaps the most [...]

Whilst the details of the Brexit divorce settlement and future trading relations are likely to become clearer over the coming weeks, it is important to consider a range of scenarios including ‘no [...]

The comments made on Friday 3rd August by Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, that the risk of a no deal Brexit was ‘uncomfortably high’ had a significant impact on the currency [...]

Plastribution’s recent Understanding the Polymer Supply Chain Conference took place on 5-6 June 2018. This was the 3rd ‘sharing of experience & expertise’ forum that has been held since 2015 and [...]

PA66 market ‘overheating’ many users and specifiers may well be forced to ‘down spec’ applications wherever possible, with the major winners potentially being for example nylon 6 and/or higher [...]

Last week I attended the Polymer Sourcing conference in Barcelona where many of the presentations focused on the capacity expansions in the US based on ethane feedstock from shale gas.

Oil prices have surged in recent weeks as the rhetoric from US President Donald Trump regarding Iran has intensified and the threat of sanctions increased. Iran is one of the largest global oil [...]

For polyamide 66 processors across Europe, the situation has now become critical. Extremely tight supply for base polymer and compounds will intensify further now that both Invista & Solvay have [...]

In addition to our monthly Price know-how publication, which is now uploaded to our online library, the Hub (www.plastribution.co.uk/know-how-hub), we also provide an assessment of what has [...]

Feedstocks move up in December resulting in upward pressure on polymer prices.

The major driver of feedstock costs in September was mainly related to the aftermath of storms affecting the US Gulf Coast, and in particular the impact of storm ‘Harvey’ in the Texas region.

A presentation by: Mike Boswell - Chairman of Brexit Taskforce

I ate humble pie for my tea last night and I have to admit I found it very tasty. I have been very outspoken internally at Plastribution about my feelings about trade shows which has led to some [...]

Factors including exchange rates, feedstock price increases, strong demand, poor availability and even storms in the US are pushing prices upward.

As highlighted in out previous blog (www.plastribution.co.uk/interesting-times-sterling), with the polymer market fluctuating in light of several key suppliers closing their orders books early in [...]

As has already been evident for those of us who like to spend our summer holidays in Europe, we have seen further erosion in the price of sterling over the last few months.

Price increases look likely as polymer producers close order books early in August.

Will standard polymer prices continue to soften, or is there a risk of price increases later in the summer?

Plastribution rose to the challenge and became one of the largest suppliers of acetal in the UK. The initiative was based on the partnership between Plastribution and Mitsubishi [...]

Whilst the results of the UK General Election have impacted on exchange rates, relaxation in some polymer prices will bring relief to many plastics processors.

Plastribution has had a long and successful relationship with the Chi Mei Corporation, the world’s largest vendor of ABS. Founded in 1960 in Tainan, Taiwan, Chi Mei’s many products are widely [...]

Styrene monomer prices have plummeted and C2 and C3 prices have rolled over from April into May. In the case of Ethylene, this comes after a rollover in price from March to April. For styrene [...]

According to the trade body Petrochemicals Europe, an amazing 95% of manufactured goods are dependent upon the use of petrochemicals, of which plastics and polymers are a significant part. Whilst [...]

Tight Supply of Both Feedstocks and Polymers Continues to Fuel Price Inflation.

Is it likely that increasing benzene prices, that are already impacting styrenic polymer pricing, will stimulate rapid inflation for engineering polymers?

In the course of the past week two consumer ‘durable’ products have failed me. On both occasions a plastic component has failed prematurely. Whilst in each case the design of the component could [...]

A new year heralds higher oil prices and fresh calls for price increases, which are likely to be influenced by a recent fall in the value of the GBP following a strong rally at the end of 2016.

Whilst every year contains a wide array of noteworthy events, typically the ramifications of these events are short-lived and the understanding of any consequences quickly comprehended.

A confusing picture with oil prices increasing, GBP strengthening, C2 and C3 prices falling, and Styrene Monomer prices increasing significantly.

Many of us are familiar with the term ‘Carpe Diem’, which in its literal translation means ‘seize the day’ and more broadly a mantra to embrace the opportunities that life presents us with.

This strap line ‘always there, always listening’, comes from Plastribution’s brand movie, created almost 5 years ago. Many people, including on occasions my colleagues, would perhaps question the [...]

Naturally for the majority of UK citizens our perspective on BREXIT is about how the decision to leave the EU will impact us. It was not until I was preparing a presentation for a conference held [...]

Pressure continues to build on polymer pricing as feedstock prices firm and Sterling continues to weaken; but for now there is still the uncertainty factor to contend with.

What are the implications for UK plastic processors as the GBP continues to weaken with ‘BREXIT SHOCK #2,’ at the same time as oil firms and some feedstocks increase in price?

Katherine White, Plastribution’s Commercial Director and Lucy’s line-manager added: “Lucy has worked extremely hard at both with her studies and within Plastribution. This recognition is very [...]

Are Prices Finding a New Equilibrium After the Devaluation of GBP Following BREXIT?

The UK has long been recognised for its ability to originate and develop new ideas. It is also true, often due to commercial necessity, that many of those ideas go forward to be produced in lower [...]

Whilst for many the supply crisis, which began in February 2015, is becoming a distant memory there are still today occasions in which availability of product is a serious issue.

Headquartered in Budapest - Hungary, MOL Group is the largest plastic raw material producer in central Europe and holds a leading position in this region.

It is now two months after the shock result of UK’s referendum on EU membership. Whilst in the lead up to the 23rd June vote there was a discernible atmosphere of trepidation in terms of ‘what if [...]

The Kafrit Group are a global leader in the production of high quality flame retardant masterbatches and have been partnered with Plastribution for many years. They have been suppliers to the [...]

Whether BREXIT will be regarded as the reason or simply the trigger for an economic slow-down, or if indeed other factors are of influence, is unlikely to be known for some time.

Since October 2011 Plastribution has been able to offer its customers purging agents from Aquapurge. We currently hold stock of their Barrel Blitz Universal (BBU) purging compound within our [...]

What is the Potential Impact of BREXIT on UK Polymer Prices?

For those of you who are contemplating a more engaged workforce, we would strongly advise using an engagement survey and regardless of the performance rating, you will know where you are on the [...]