Olefin Prices Take a Breather
Midsummer brought a sudden pause in price escalation—at least for polyolefins—after a storm of increases announced in June.
Midsummer brought a sudden pause in price escalation—at least for polyolefins—after a storm of increases announced in June. Thermoset prices were still on the march, however, as were those of some other resins.
PE prices flat
After moving up 3¢ to 6¢/lb in June, polyethylene prices remained flat last month. The 7¢/lb increase scheduled for July 1 appears to be on hold, with some suppliers pushing it back to August and others rumored to be splitting it for partial implementation in August and September. Meanwhile, the London Metal Exchange (LME) August short-term futures contract for butene LLDPE for blown film (55.5¢/lb) is down from July’s 56.2¢.
Contributing factors: Based on their current sup ply/demand assessment, suppliers anticipate that they will be able to implement their 7¢/lb increase, even if it is done in increments. Overall demand is currently balanced, though some markets are stronger than others—particularly HDPE blow molding, profiles, and film. Suppliers’ plant operating rates continue at above 90%. June ethylene monomer contract prices moved up only 1.5¢, to 47¢/lb, and July saw much lower spot prices for the first time in a long time.
PP prices stable
Polypropylene prices were flat or down as much as 1.5¢/lb in July after having risen an average of 7¢ in the two previous months. Suppliers’ 4¢ to 5¢/lb price hikes announced for July 1 did not appear to be widely implemented at press time. LME’s August short-term futures contract for g-p injection-grade homopolymer moved up a bit to 55.1¢ from June’s 54.8¢/lb.
Contributing factors: Discounts were available last month from some suppliers and brokers, according to resin purchasing consultant Resin Technology Inc., Fort Worth, Texas. This followed two successive price hikes that totaled 9¢/lb but varied in actual implementation, with smaller buyers at the higher end and larger buyers at the lower end. Although June propylene monomer prices moved up 3¢ to 52¢/lb, July contract prices were expected to drop.
Thermosets, styrenics & nylons up
In the first week of July, makers of unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins and gel coats announced increases to take effect before the end of that month. AOC, CCP, Interplastic, and Reichhold all lifted tabs by 5¢/lb.
Hexion Specialty Chemicals joined Dow in hiking epoxies on July 1 by 6¢ to 10¢/lb. Meanwhile, Dow announced another 6¢/lb epoxy increase for Aug. 1.
BASF added another 4¢/lb to Styrolux and Styroclear SBC resins as of Aug. 1. They already went up 4¢ in June.
And Arkema raised its Rilsan and Orgalloy specialty nylons by 4% to 8% on July 1.
Phthalo Blue & Green Prices Rise
Sun Chemical Performance Pigments, Cincinnati, raised prices of copper phthalocyanine blue pigments 40¢/lb on July 10, while phthalo greens went up 25¢. Sun noted that copper metal prices were up 60% so far this year, while phthalic anhydride costs 20% more.
New European Firm to Make SMA Copolymer
Polyscope Polymers BV, Geleen, Netherlands, is a new company formed to make styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymers at a plant where SMA was formerly made by DSM. It plans to start production later this year. Polyscope says demand for SMA is growing at European car makers like Volkswagen/Audi, GM/Opel, and Ford for interior components such as instrument-panel substrates. Up to now, the major source of SMA in the U.S. and Europe has been Nova, producer of Dylark SMA. Polyscope: +31 475 34 62 62 • www.polyscope.nl
Solutia to Add Nylon Capacity
Solutia Inc., St. Louis, is adding capacity for nylon 66 resins and compounds at Pensacola, Fla. The additions are intended to respond to increased worldwide demand, particular in China. Solutia will boost production of Vydyne and Ascend products by 70 million lb/yr starting this quarter and continuing into 2008.
Market Prices Effective Mid-July A |
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KEY: Colored areas indicate pricing activity. An arrow () indicates direction of price change. aTruckload, unless otherwise specified. bUnfilled, natural color, unless otherwise specified. cBased on typical or average density. dNot applicable. eNovolac and anhydride grades for coils, bushings, transformers. fNovolac and anhydride grades for resisitors, capacitors, diodes. gIn quantities of 20,000 lb. h19,800-lb load. jLME 30-day futures contract for lots of 54,564 lb.. |
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