TotalEnergies plans to close one of two crackers at its integrated refining and petrochemicals complex in Antwerp, Belgium, by the end of 2027 owing to "considerable overcapacity in the petrochemicals market", the firm says. No downstream units at Antwerp are expected to be affected as the cracker is not integrated with them, it says. The non-renewal of a major third-party ethylene contract by the end of 2027 was the main driver behind the announcement, TotalEnergies says. The company will shut down the 570,000 t/yr flexible cracker that can be fed with up to 40pc butane, 10pc propane and 10pc ethane as well as 40-100pc naphtha. The other unaffected 600,000 t/yr unit can use the same ratios of butane and ethane but up to 40pc of propane. The planned closure will come shortly after the expected start-up of UK firm Ineos' 1.45mn t/yr ethane cracker in Antwerp.
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US/Canada September PE contracts settle up 5¢/lb
US/Canada September PE contracts settle up 5¢/lb
Houston, 9 October (Argus) — September contracts in the US/Canada polyethylene (PE) market largely settled higher by 5¢/lb during the week, as rising export prices helped to support higher domestic prices. There were some reports that certain producers had invoiced only a 3¢/lb increase for the month, but the majority of producers pushed through the full 5¢/lb increase to the wider market. Some buyers are now pressing for producers to grant non-market adjustments that will take those 5¢/lb increases down to 3¢/lb, but so far, any non-market activity is believed to be not widespread. The increases came as crude oil prices moved above $100/bl in mid-September on supply concerns out of the Middle East due to the US-Iran war. The increases in global energy prices raised feedstock prices for global PE, which allowed producers to push US export prices higher. Even as crude prices have eased from those earlier highs, US export prices have been able to maintain their increases, which helped to sustain the increase in domestic contracts. Export prices are continuing to rise this week. Between 2-9 September, US export prices rose by 4-8¢/lb on an fas Houston basis, depending upon grade. High density polyethylene (HDPE) high molecular weight film has seen the highest increase of 8¢/lb over the period due to tightness for that particular grade, while linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) butene has seen a lesser increase of 4¢/lb over the period due to more plentiful supply. Some domestic buyers are convinced that they will be able to push producers to give back some of the 5¢/lb increase, arguing that fundamentals do not support the full increase, as domestic demand is not improving. "Everyone I have talked to on my side of the industry said the 3¢/lb increase is fine, but the 5¢/lb is excessive," one US PE buyer said. "The thought is that producers will have to give back 2¢/lb to the biggest buyers or risk having a down settlement in October." But other buyers are not convinced that producers will be willing to lower prices, given that the export market continues to support higher prices. "I'm not seeing anyone back off of the nickel for September now," another US PE buyer said. Traders said they see a real possibility that export prices will continue to move higher in the coming weeks. While many global buyers have backed away from the market with the higher prices this week, one trader said he expects them to return once it becomes apparent that prices will not move lower. "People are not jumping on prices now. Everyone is chasing two-weeks ago price levels," the trader said. "But that resistance is being broken as time goes by and they see that manufacturers are very firm on pricing." For October, US and Canadian producers have announced increases of 7¢/lb for contracts. Buyers say they see little to support additional increases after the September increase, but other market participants said it will depend on what happens with export prices over the course of the month. By Michelle Klump Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil's PE imports drop in September
Brazil's PE imports drop in September
Sao Paulo, 9 October (Argus) — Brazil's polyethylene (PE) imports in August fell by 44pc from a year earlier, with most products coming from the US. Imports totaled around 35,880 metric tonnes (t) during the month, down from 64,649t in September 2025, according to data from trade ministry Mdic. September imports were worth $56.6mn, a 21pc drop from a year prior. The US was still Brazil's largest PE supplier in September, sending 15,524t of the resin. But volumes fell by nearly 64pc from a year before. The US' import share fell by around 22.9 percentage points from September 2025 to nearly 43.3pc. Argentina was Brazil's second-largest PE supplier in the month, shipping nearly 9,476t, a 31pc decrease from a year prior. That was 17.7pc of Brazil's total imports in the month, up from 15.8pc a year before. The third-largest PE supplier into Brazil in September was China, with 2,274t, more than double from a year prior. China accounted for 3.3pc of Brazil's total imports in the month. Spain, Netherlands and Canada also followed. Spain sent 2,131t, up from 446t a year prior, while the Netherlands sent nearly 1,576t. Canada sent 1,172t. By Mariana Funchal Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil's September PP exports rise by 34pc
Brazil's September PP exports rise by 34pc
Sao Paulo, 9 October (Argus) — Brazil's polypropylene (PP) September exports rose by 34pc from a year earlier, with Argentina as the largest export destination. Brazil exported nearly 22,457 metric tonnes (t) of PP in September, up from 16,793t in the same month a year earlier. Revenues from PP exports totaled $29.9mn, up by 47.8pc from a year prior, trade ministry Mdic data show. Argentina received most of Brazil's PP exports in September, at 4,501t, a 7.8pc decrease from a year prior. Peru followed with 3,862t and Colombia received 3,547t. Brazil also imported 51,297t of PP in the month, down by 18pc from 62,445t in September 2025. Import costs rose by 1.9pc to $79.1mn. China was Brazil's largest PP supplier in September, sending around 10,828t, a tenfold increase from a year prior. Egypt was second, exporting 9,282t of the resin to Brazil, a 6.8pc increase from a year prior. Argentina followed, sending 8,344t, a 16.5pc decrease from a year before. By Mariana Funchal Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
UK sets minimum obligation, plastic packaging recycling
UK sets minimum obligation, plastic packaging recycling
London, 9 October (Argus) — Packaging producers now only need to meet a minimum of 83pc of their 2026 plastic recycling obligations under UK Extended Producer Responsibility, the Environment Agency said. The UK Environment Agency (EA) has released a regulatory position statement (RPS) setting minimum percentages for three packaging materials of recycling obligations that must be met by packaging producers in 2026 to comply with UK extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations for the 2026 compliance year. The minimum proportion of a producer's recycling obligation is lowest for plastics, at 83pc, while the EA also released minimum proportions for wood and steel at 90pc and 92pc, respectively, and stated that full obligations must continue to be met for other packaging materials. An announcement from the government had been anticipated by many market participants following rumours that the ministry for environment, food and rural affairs (Defra) held a meeting at the start of September in which a revision of the obligations to purchase Packaging Recovery Notes or Packaging Export Recovery Notes (PRNs/PERNs) was discussed. This came about owing to a shortfall in the generation of PRN/PERNs compared with the expected annual obligation, partly because of stricter requirements placed on recyclers and exporters this year. PRN/PERN prices for plastic have traded at and above £600/t ($794/t) at times this year, a record high. PRN/PERN prices for plastic had already started to fall in this morning's trading from an opening price of £575/t to around £500/t. The fall in PRN/PERN prices is likely to affect bale prices, which include a consideration for the value of the PRN/PERN that the buyer expects to generate from the material. UK recyclers generate one PRN for every tonne of recyclate they produce from domestic packaging waste. Likewise, exporters generate one PERN for every tonne of plastic waste exported to accredited recyclers. Companies placing packaging onto the UK market have an obligation to purchase a certain number of credits each year. By Anna Fittock, Chloe Kinner and Will Collins Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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