PetroChem Wire: Polystyrene prices increase on tight supply

PetroChem Wire: Polystyrene prices increase on tight supply

Following the rise in prime polystyrene prices, suppliers of recycled PS increased their prices three to four cents per pound in January and expect further gains in February.

HIPS pellets pricing reached the upper 70s cents per pound, with some offers for white material seen close to 80 cents per pound, and black HIPS pellets about a penny under white. GPPS pellet pricing was in the low to mid-50 cents per pound range for mixed color and black material, with white GPPS pellets in the upper 50s and natural closer to 60 cents per pound. Regrind prices for HIPS and GPPS were also higher in January, with GPPS mixed color and black at or just above the mid 40s cents per pound, and natural and white flake grade reaching the 50 cents per pound level.

In the prime polystyrene market, spot PS prices continued to edge higher as January came to a close and producers prepared to implement February price increases of five cents per pound on GPPS and seven cents per pound on HIPS. Availability of off grade material remained relatively low, and high-heat crystal was reportedly scarce in the secondary market.

For more information about PetroChem Wire's Repro/Regrind Resin Report and daily prime grade polymers and monomers report, or to arrange a free trial subscription, contact Cindy Bryan at cindy@petrochemwire.com [1].

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