- Market Overview
- Strategic Analysis
- Key Features
Market Overview
Duration: Short-term – 2-year price forecast and market outlook
The global plastics and polymers market is facing severe oversupply and critically low profitability, necessitating urgent strategic action for producers across Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), and Polystyrene (PS). In North America, PE producers are attempting to stabilize market conditions by tightening inventory levels and reducing operating rates amid rising ethylene cash costs and persistently depressed global prices.
Globally, the PP market continues to endure multi-year low margins driven by structural overcapacity, with little improvement expected until meaningful capacity rationalization occurs. The PVC sector, meanwhile, remains constrained by prolonged weakness in construction demand and increasing volumes of low-cost imports, further exacerbated by India’s recent removal of BIS certification requirements, which opens the door to additional Mainland China supply.
The PS/EPS market is under pressure as well, impacted by soft demand and permanent capacity closures in Europe; however, rising benzene and styrene costs may create a near-term price floor.
To endure this prolonged low-margin cycle and navigate rapidly shifting geopolitical and trade dynamics, companies must leverage deep market intelligence to reassess sourcing strategies, capitalize on emerging arbitrage and trade flow opportunities (such as evolving US–EU PE trade patterns), and proactively manage the structural oversupply reshaping the global polymer landscape.
Comprehensive monthly market price, supply, demand, and trade data and analysis for commodity plastics, including:
- Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)
- Expandable Polystyrene (EPS)
- Polyethylene Terephthalate, Bottle Resin (PET)
- Polyethylene (PE)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polystyrene (PS)
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Strategic Analysis
Duration: Short-term – 2-year price forecast and market outlook
The Global Polymers and Plastics Report delivers comprehensive coverage of key commodity plastics—including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene and expanded polystyrene (PS & EPS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)—across the Americas, Western Europe, and Asia. The report provides detailed analysis of supply–demand fundamentals, pricing trends, margin performance, and global and regional trade dynamics.
Developed through expert insights from analysts worldwide, the report integrates regional market perspectives into a cohesive global view of the plastics value chain. Clients receive weekly updates, a mid-month report, a monthly summary, special focus articles, and access to global webinars. Regular dialogue with regional experts is also encouraged to support deeper understanding and strategic decision-making.
With both short-term and long-term price forecasts essential for effective budgeting and risk management, our plastics market specialists help clients anticipate market volatility, prepare for unexpected shifts, and optimize their planning through ongoing expert engagement.
Key Features
Duration: Short-term – 2-year price forecast and market outlook
PRICES COVERED
Contract and spot price summary with a brief review of current market conditions
Chemicals covered : LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, PET & PVC
GLOBAL WEEKLY MARKET SNAPSHOT
This weekly summary provides spot pricing for major PE grades—HDPE, LLDPE, and LDPE—as well as PP homopolymer across North America, South America, West Europe, and Asia Pacific. It also includes concise bullet points highlighting the key market trends and developments in each region, offering a clear snapshot of global polyolefin market conditions.
GLOBAL MONTHLY MARKET REPORT
This report delivers comprehensive insights into price dynamics, margin trends, trade considerations, and operational challenges shaping the plastics and polymers industry. It examines current supply–demand conditions for resin and key end-use markets, analyzes purchasing behavior, and forecasts changes in polymer and finished product inventories. The report also evaluates market events and emerging factors that may influence future industry conditions, supporting strategic planning and informed decision-making.
DATA SUPPLEMENT
This report provides a detailed assessment of the key economic challenges and operational considerations impacting the global plastics and polymers industry. It also includes comprehensive trade data and market insights for major resin-producing and resin-consuming countries, supporting a clearer understanding of international trade flows and competitive dynamics across the global value chain.
MARKET FOCUS REPORT
This report provides deeper research into critical and emerging challenges facing the global plastics industry. Previous areas of analysis have explored recycling markets, trade disputes, weather-related disruptions, and other key industry issues that continue to influence supply–demand dynamics, competitiveness, and overall market performance.
ACCESS TO SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
Clients receive direct, one-on-one access to industry experts through phone consultations, email support, or scheduled meetings to discuss the key insights featured in the monthly market report. This personalized advisory service enables subscribers to deepen their understanding of market fundamentals, price drivers, and supply–demand dynamics, while clarifying complex data points and analysis. It also provides tailored perspectives on region-specific market trends, empowering clients to make more informed, strategic decisions across the global petrochemical value chain.
SUPPLY & DEMAND
Short-term production news updates, production statistics, plant-by-plant operating schedules, and long-term structural supply changes. End-use analysis across the diverse range of end-use sectors plus macro industry trend analysis.
Region
- Mexico
- Northeast Asia
- United States
- Canada
- West Europe
- China
- Japan
- Korea
- Taiwan
Chemical
- Polypropylene (PP)
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
- Polystyrene (PS)
- Expandable Polystyrene (EPS)
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
- Polyethylene Terephthalate, Bottle Resin (PET)
TRADE
This service delivers comprehensive global trade intelligence for the plastics & polymers market, offering the latest trade statistics, detailed global trade flow analysis, and freight rate estimates across major shipping routes. It also provides continuous monitoring of tariffs, sanctions, and regulatory developments impacting the movement of aromatics and related petrochemicals. These insights enable stakeholders to evaluate geopolitical and policy risks, strengthen compliance, and optimize their global supply chain and market positioning strategies across the plastics & polymers value chain.
WEBINARS
Client webinars provide in-depth intelligence on critical chemical market developments, offering timely insights into global economic trends, supply–demand dynamics, trade flows, and other key factors shaping the petrochemical and energy value chain. Each session features expert analysis from industry specialists and delivers actionable perspectives on current market movements. These interactive webinars also enable clients to engage directly with our Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) through live Q&A sessions, supporting clearer understanding, stronger strategic planning, and more informed decision-making across the chemical industry.
Related Products
- Market Advisory Service – Asia Polyethylene
- Market Advisory Service – Asia Polypropylene
- Market Advisory Service – Asia, Middle East & India Plastics & Polymers
- Market Advisory Service – Europe Plastics & Polymers
- Market Advisory Service – North America Polyethylene
- Market Advisory Service – North America Polypropylene
Related Chemicals
- Benzene
- Dimethyl Terephthalate (DMT)
- Ethylbenzene (EB)
- Ethylene
- Expandable Polystyrene (EPS)
- Polyethylene (PE)
- Polyethylene Resins, High-Density (HDPE)
- Polyethylene Resins, Linear Low-Density (LLDPE)
- Polyethylene Resins, Low-Density (LDPE)
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) – Bottle Resin
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Recycled
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polystyrene (PS)
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
- Propylene, Polymer/Chemical Grade
- Propylene, Refinery Grade (RGP)
- Salt (Sodium Chloride)
- Styrene
- Terephthalic Acid (PTA)