While most US recycled plastic scrap markets remain weak, several have likely found a pricing floor, prompting some stabilization. Overall demand remains soft, especially as buyers seasonally reduce inventory volumes within the fourth quarter.
Recent updates in US tariff policy, paired with changes in voluntary brand goals, have now shifted market outlooks for some grades of recycled resin. Other grades have yet to see any lift in pricing due to low virgin markets due to domestic overcapacity.
Looking back at September, most bale feedstock markets were steady, though flake and pellet markets dropped in a delayed effect due to inventory flows.
The September US-wide average price for spot market post-consumer recycled PET flake destined for packaging end markets dropped another 7% month on month and is down 3% year on year.
The September US-wide average price for spot market post-consumer, food grade RPET pellet is down 5% month on month and down 12% year on year.
The September average price for US spot market post-consumer, natural recycled HDPE pellet, including both food-grade and non-food grade material, is down another 11% month on month but remains up 21% year on year.
The September average price for US spot market post-consumer, mixed colored RHDPE pellet is flat month on month.
The September average price for US spot market post-consumer, natural recycled LDPE pellet is down 1% month on month though lower quality film bale and pellet markets continue to fall.
The September average prices for US spot market post-consumer, natural and black recycled PP pellet are flat month on month.
Pricing information comes from ICIS’s coverage of US recycled plastics markets, including bale, flake and pellet information across RPET, RPE and RPP. Prices shared above exclude transportation costs and “US-wide” averages take into consideration individual US East Coast and US West Coast prices provided by ICIS.
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