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.
Shell to buy Freepoint pyrolysis oil for Penn. plant
Shell to buy Freepoint pyrolysis oil for Penn. plant
Houston, 8 May (Argus) — Freepoint Eco-Systems has agreed to provide Shell's polymer plant in Pennsylvania with "a steady supply" of pyrolysis oil produced in Hebron, Ohio, from chemically recycled plastic waste. Under the "landmark agreement", oil will be shipped to Shell's polymer plant in Monaca, Pennsylvania, where it will be used to make plastic, the company said Monday. Shell did not disclose how much supply it agreed to take or for how long. Freepoint's Hebron plant is still in its commissioning phase, but the company expects to produce up to 130mn lb/yr of pyrolysis oil upon completion later this year. Pyrolysis uses high heat to break down waste plastic into feedstocks that can be used to make virgin-like plastic material. Shell said the agreement reflected its commitment to increasing the circularity of plastics in its portfolio. On 22 April, Freepoint sent its first railcar of pyrolysis oil to Shell's plant in Norco, Louisiana. By Zach Kluver Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Washington passes producer responsibility law
Washington passes producer responsibility law
Houston, 24 April (Argus) — The US state of Washington has passed a producer responsibility bill for plastic packaging, which is intended to pass on end-of-life plastics costs to producers. The bill will now go to Governor Bob Ferguson (D) to be signed into law. The law aims to collect fees from producers of single-use goods through a non-profit producer responsibility organization (PRO) in order to fund municipal recycling and to increase investment in recycling infrastructure across the state. Under the law, producers must register with Washington's PRO by 1 July 2026, with full implementation of the law and fee collection set to begin in January 2030. Washington's law will require its PRO to cover at least 50pc of the state's net recycling costs by 2030, and 90pc by 2032. If the bill is signed into law, Washington will become the seventh state to pass a producer responsibility law for plastic packaging in the US. Less than a month ago on 7 April, Maryland passed a producer responsibility law. Oregon's producer responsibility law for plastics packaging will be the first to be fully operational in the US in July. By Zach Kluver Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Circular Plastics to start up Vietnam recycling plant
Circular Plastics to start up Vietnam recycling plant
Singapore, 23 April (Argus) — Singapore-based regional plastic recycler Circular Plastics (CPC) is expected to start up its second recycling facility in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Vietnam, in late May, a company spokesperson told Argus. The facility has a production capacity of 25,000 t/yr of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) flakes and 14,000 t/yr of rPET pellets. CPC currently produces 18,000 t/yr of rPET flakes and 14,000 t/yr of rPET pellets from its other facility located in Yangon, Myanmar. CPC is a producer of high-quality food grade recycled packaging material and supplies global beverage and consumer product companies. By Sihan Long Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
TotalEnergies plans Antwerp cracker closure
TotalEnergies plans Antwerp cracker closure
London, 22 April (Argus) — TotalEnergies has announced plans to close one of the two crackers at its integrated refining and petrochemicals complex in Antwerp, Belgium by the end of 2027. The Antwerp complex is "facing considerable overcapacity in the petrochemicals market", the firm said. The company does not expect to close any downstream petrochemical units at Antwerp and stressed that the cracker is not integrated into its own downstream polymer production. Rather, its exposure to the merchant market has contributed to the closure, with the company highlighting the non-renewal of a major third-party ethylene contract by the end of 2027 as the main driver for the announcement. The unit marked for closure has a nameplate ethylene capacity of 570,000 t/yr and propylene capacity of 255,000 t/yr. It mainly runs on naphtha but has some flexibility to use propane and butane as feedstock. The planned closure will come shortly after the expected start-up of a new 1.45mn t/yr ethane cracker in Antwerp being built by UK-based Ineos. TotalEnergies said it will focus on its other Antwerp cracker, which has 600,000 t/yr of ethylene capacity and is fully integrated with similar-capacity polyethylene units at Antwerp and Feluy. While the closure will not impact TotalEnergies' internal ethylene balance, it will tighten internal propylene supply for the company's 930,000 t/yr polypropylene capacity at Feluy. The cracker closure is part of wider plans for the Antwerp complex announced today, which include wind power, electrification and battery storages and sustainable aviation fuel production. By Alex Sands Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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