Polymers
Overview
Global polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) supply and demand dynamics are in transition. Supply is increasing much faster than demand and international trade is shifting due to political and economic events. About 40% of the US polyethylene production is exported, mainly to Asian markets, whereas only about 10% of the polypropylene production is exported, mainly to LATAM markets.
Ethylene prices in Asia and Europe are tied to naphtha whereas ethylene prices in the US are impacted by natural gas and ethane supply. Asia is also self-sufficient on PP whereas they must import 25% of their PE demand.
The impacts of other ethylene and propylene derivatives such as PVC or propylene oxide also require assessment.
Our polymer experts will help you determine what trends to track and how to stay competitive in today’s ever-changing global markets.
Latest polymers news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global polymers industry.
Viewpoint: US recycled polymers under pressure
Viewpoint: US recycled polymers under pressure
Houston, 2 January (Argus) — The US recycled polymers market enters 2026 under pressure from weak demand, low costs for virgin resin and fragmented policy signals. With no federal recycled-content mandate on the horizon, state programs remain the leading driver of compliance, while a pending Oregon legal challenge adds fresh uncertainty. The US recycling market lacks unified recycled content requirements, and most of the country is still operating in the absence of less-stringent measures such as extended producer responsibility (EPR) and deposit return schemes (DRS) for plastic packaging. In addition, momentum for a national sustainability initiative has stalled during the administration of President Donald Trump, which has repeatedly shown little interest in — and has even actively eschewed — climate initiatives across the board. With recycling legislation deprioritized, expectations are growing that state-level rules will shape demand in 2026. Oregon's Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act, which introduced EPR requirements in 2021, will face a pivotal legal test in early 2026. The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) has requested a preliminary injunction, with a hearing scheduled for 14 January before the US District Court. NAW argues that the law forces producers and distributors to contract with a single entity, violating constitutional limits on interstate business. The ruling could reshape the national EPR landscape. If NAW prevails, enforcement in Oregon may be delayed, or the program may be redesigned, which would weaken investments in state-led recycling mandates. An unfavorable ruling for Oregon could also encourage opposition to similar programs, jeopardizing Washington's newly adopted ERP law and stalling EPR legislation in New Jersey. But if Oregon's law withstands the challenge, it could secure funding for recycling infrastructure and strengthen momentum for EPR programs nationwide. Legal uncertainty adds to the structural challenges already weighing on recycled plastics. Many US recyclers have shut down facilities as low-cost imports and oversupplied virgin material weaken margins. Major plants such as rPlanet Earth and Evergreen in California, and the PET recycling affiliate of Alpek in North Carolina, all shuttered in 2025, and WM's Natura location idled its Texas film recycling plant. Market sources say recyclers lack incentives to invest amid weak demand signals. In addition to a lack of urgency in policy, the recycling industry has seen a rollback in voluntary initiatives from end-users, with several brand owners retreating on their sustainability goals. This year, PepsiCo reduced its previous target of 50pc of recycled content in its plastics by 2030 to 40pc by 2035. PepsiCo's reduced target follows Coca- Cola's shift in 2024 from 50pc recycled content by 2030 to 35-40pc by 2035. The brands will point out — in many cases justifiably — that they are unable to obtain sufficient recycled material to hit their targets, particularly in the case of non-PET food contact packaging where the choice of materials is severely restricted by local safety laws. The additional cost of packaging-quality recyclates, compared with virgin material, is also very likely to be another factor in the current business environment in which many brands are discussing cost-saving initiatives. From the recycling industry's perspective, this illustrates that voluntary commitments alone are not enough to drive investment in the industry. Unless federal action is implemented, state-level uncertainty and voluntary corporate initiatives will leave recycled plastics demand vulnerable through 2026. The legal outcome in Oregon will set the tone for EPR mandates nationwide. The US recycled plastics market enters 2026 at a crossroads, awaiting legislative clarity that could determine whether sustainability goals will gain the necessary momentum or risk further deterioration. By Dona Davis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU agrees recycled content for cars
EU agrees recycled content for cars
Brussels, 12 December (Argus) — The European Parliament and EU states have provisionally agreed on the end-of-life vehicles regulation. It will set mandatory targets for recycled content in new vehicles, phasing in 15pc recycled plastics content in 6 years and 25pc in 10 years. Targets for recycled steel and aluminium should also be established two years after the entry into force, after the European Commission undertakes feasibility studies. The regulation further stipulates that 20pc of the recycled plastics content targets will be achieved by plastics from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) or from used parts and components. The provisional agreement still needs to be formally adopted over the coming months by majorities of EU states and also by the whole parliament. It will extend the regulation's provisions for collection, de-pollution and removal of parts, to all regular heavy-duty vehicles, motorcycles and both small and heavy-duty special purpose vehicles (SPVs). Danish environment minister Magnus Heunicke said the deal closes loopholes and "ensures valuable materials are kept within the EU economy, and curbs the export of polluting, non-roadworthy vehicles to third countries". Three years after entry into force, the regulation will establish a cross-border extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme. Manufacturers will be financially and organisationally responsible for their vehicles over the entire lifecycle. And the new rules aim to better distinguish used from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). Five years after entry into force of the regulation, exports of non-roadworthy used vehicles will be banned to in order to retain recycled materials within the EU. "This agreement sets realistic targets and minimises administrative requirements," said German centre-right EPP's Jens Gieseke MEP, parliament's lead negotiator from the environment committee. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US PET bottle recycling rate falls in 2024
US PET bottle recycling rate falls in 2024
Houston, 11 December (Argus) — The US recycling rate for PET bottles fell to 30.2pc in 2024 , down from 32.5pc in 2023, but remained higher than the 2014-2023 average of 29.5pc, according to the latest data from the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR). US PET bottle collection volumes fell 3.9pc in 2024 to 1,889mn lbs from 1,965mn lbs in 2023, which is the highest annual volume on record. The collection rate also slipped to 39.2pc in 2024, although it remained above the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's 30pc benchmark for recycling scale, NAPCOR said. PET bottle reclaimers processed 88pc of all PET bottles collected for recycling in 2024, up by 1pc from 2023. Reclaimers processed 1,966mn lbs of material in 2024, up by 1.5pc from 2023, by supplementing domestic bottle supply with imported material and alternative feedstocks. The rPET bottle content rate fell to 15.9pc in 2024, down from 16.2pc in 2023, but above the previous three-year average of 13.7pc. Sales of rPET to US and Canadian end-markets declined by 3pc from 2023 to 1,733mn lbs in 2024, while imports of rPET reached 395mn lbs, accounting for a record high of 23pc of the total rPET supply. Bottle applications represented more than 60pc of domestic rPET sales. The proportion of material successfully recovered during rPET reclamation in the US and Canada increased to 85.2pc in 2024 from 81.5pc in 2023. The increase reflects higher recovery and reuse of materials. Recovery of PET thermoform — a type of PET packaging made by molding plastic sheets into a container — increased by 52pc to 264mn lbs, which helped compensate for declines in bottle volumes. Reclaimers recycled four times more non-usual feedstock, such as post-industrial scrap and chemical recycling material , than in 2023, driven by chemical recycling technologies operating at scale. By Dona Davis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Global bioplastics production set to rise: Correction
Global bioplastics production set to rise: Correction
Corrects name of EUBP secretary general in final paragraph. This story was originally published on 2 December London, 3 December (Argus) — Global bio-based plastic production capacity is set to double to 4.7mn t by 2030, according to the latest report from the industry association European Bioplastics (EUBP). The organisation published a report with the Nova Institute, which estimated that current production capacity is roughly 2.31mn t and represents 0.5pc of the total plastic production capacity worldwide. The bioplastics industry in 2025 operated at an overall production utilisation rate of 72pc up from 63pc reported in 2024, meaning that roughly 1.67mn t of bioplastics were produced in 2025. The association noted that depending on the bio-polymer and production region in question utilisation rates varied massively. In 2025, polylactic acid (PLA) production capacity represented 26.4pc of the total production followed by bio-polyamide production (bio-PA). Bio-polyethylene (bio-PE) production capacity stood at 12.7pc, while bio-polypropylene production capacity stood at 1pc of total global bioplastic production capacity. The report expects bio-PE production capacity to rise to 13.5pc of the total production capacity or roughly 633,000 t/yr with similar figures expected for bio-PP at 13.6pc. In Europe, the report expected stated that current bio-based production capacity in 2025 was 330,000 t/yr with 28.1pc of this coming from bio-PA, 30.3pc coming from PBAT, 5.2pc coming from bio-PE and 6.7pc coming from bio-PE. At the EUBP, conference taking place in Berlin on 2-3 December, the report's authors mentioned that they have not included mass-balanced capacities in their figures, preferring to mention only biomass feedstock-only pathways. Currently, EUBP does not recognise the mass-balanced approach as set out in a position paper but it remains under discussion, with differing opinions about the adoption of the definition counting towards bio-based material heard today at the conference. The figures also do not include bio-degradable materials that are produced from fossil fuels. By 2030, total production capacity of biobased plastics in Europe is set to rise to 800,000 t/yr. This is largely being driven by increases in bio-PE and bio-PP production. Bio-PE capacity is set to rise to 138,400 t/yr in five years time from 22,110 t/yr, while bio-PP production capacity will rise to 238,400 t/yr by 2030, up from 17,316 t/yr in 2025. This is largely set to be driven in Europe by methanol-to-polymers (MTP). The bio-plastics and chemicals industry in Europe last week reacted to the European Bioeconomy strategy . The latest version of the strategy released indicated that the European Commission would look to introduce bio-plastics as being able to count towards some content requirements. At the Berlin conference today, EUBP Secretary General, Lorenza Romanese, described the strategy as the "the best news" for the industry in Europe in recent years. By George Barsted Global bioplastics production capacity forecast Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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