Polyethylene trading activity was again below average; the market began the year with strength amid tight supplies and a flurry of buying, but processor enthusiasm has since faded. PE prices, both prime and offgrade, firmly held on to their $.02-.03/lb gains garnered earlier in the month, but did not advance further this past week. The flow of railcar offers has been exceptionally light since early December and producers have generally refrained ... [More]

Spot Polypropylene trading was decent, but mostly disappointing, we transacted Prime HoPP and CoPP with some scattered offgrade sales, and prices gained another $.02/lb, bringing the Jan total to $.08/lb. The price rise might seem like a lot, but it pales in comparison to the sharp and steep run-up seen in spot Propylene monomer costs. Spot PGP advanced another $.10/lb this week alone, a total of $.19/lb since 2023 began, and a whopping 100% sinc... [More]