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.
Brightmark to build Georgia pyrolysis plant
Brightmark to build Georgia pyrolysis plant
Houston, 24 April (Argus) — Chemical recycler Brightmark plans to build a 400,00t/yr pyrolysis plant in Thomaston, Georgia, two years after the company terminated its plan to build a similar plant in a nearby Georgia community. Pyrolysis is a form of chemical recycling that breaks down used plastic into pyrolysis oil, which can then be reprocessed into new plastics at virgin polymers facilities. The 2.5mn ft² plant will cost $950mn, including infrastructure such as roads and rail access, Brightmark said. A previous plan to build a chemical recycling facility in Macon, Georgia, ended in 2022 after Mayor Lester Miller withdrew his support, citing "long-term safety concerns" from Brightmark's "unproven process". The company finished construction of its first chemical recycling plant in Ashley, Indiana, in 2022. Brightmark said it has recycled 2,000t of plastic waste so far at its Indiana plant, well behind its anticipated volume of 100,000 t/yr. By Zach Kluver Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Overseas companies get US FDA polymers certifications
Overseas companies get US FDA polymers certifications
Houston, 15 April (Argus) — European and Asian companies have received a spate of FDA no objection letters (NOL) this year, a growing indication of overseas interest in the US recycled polymers market. FDA no objection letters allow recyclers to sell their recycled plastic pellets for use in limited food and drink-grade applications. Ultra-Poly and Circulus Holdings are the only two US-based companies who have received NOLs so far in 2024, out of a total of 14 different companies. Circulus received approval to use recycled low density polyethylene (LDPE) from its Ardmore, Oklahoma, facility for food contact in January, and Ultra-Poly received approval to use its recycled injection-molded polypropylene for food contact in March. Austrian recycler Borealis received two NOLs this year from the FDA, for its polypropylene and its high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and German recycler Gneuss Kunststofftechnik has received three, for HDPE, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS). Italian chemicals company Versalis received approval for its recycled PS. Recyclers from East and Southeast Asia made up the rest of this year's approvals so far, for PP, PS, and HDPE. Recipients include the Pashupati Group from India, China-based Shanghai SmartLoop Industrial, and the Japan-based DIC Coporation. Growing imports from overseas greatly increased supply of recycled material in 2023 and 2024, but some domestic producers fear that the lower pricing from some overseas manufacturers will threaten their ability to stay in business. By Zach Kluver Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU lawmakers lend support to plastic pellet waste plans
EU lawmakers lend support to plastic pellet waste plans
London, 2 April (Argus) — The EU's environment committee has adopted proposed changes to new set of regulations aimed at reducing the loss of waste plastic and promoting new practises to deal with pollution risks. The regulations require any installations that handle more than 1,000 t/yr of plastic pellets to establish risk assessment plans. The proposed regulation passed the committee with 71 votes in favour, five against and one abstention. The full European Council will now vote on the proposal later this month. The proposal will apply from two years after enactment of the law for large enterprises, three years for medium sized enterprises and five years for small enterprises. It also allows collecttion of data on the type of polymers and amount plastic pellets handled each year. Lawmakers have also proposed that containers carrying plastic pellets should have pictogram labels to carry information linked to any danger that may be caused by spillages. According to the EU, 57mn t of plastic pellets were produced and handled in the EU in 2021 and up to 180,000t of pellets are lost into the environment each year. Additional measures include a report on introducing chemical traceability to plastic pellets, to be published by the commission two years after the introduction of the new regulations, and mandatory training for enterprises working with plastic pellets. These regulations come as EU diplomats have endorsed the Packaging and Plastic Waste Regulation (PPWR), which will aim to introduce mandatory requirements for recycled content across almost all plastic packaging in the single market. By George Barsted Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Borealis acquires Bulgarian mechanical recycler
Borealis acquires Bulgarian mechanical recycler
London, 2 April (Argus) — Austria-based chemical company Borealis has bought a 100pc stake in Bulgarian mechanical recycling firm Integra Plastics, which operates a 20,000 t/yr capacity plant in Elin Pelin, Bulgaria. Integra Plastics produces polyolefin recyclates from post-consumer waste. The deal was first announced in November. Borealis has acquired a number of European mechanical recyclers in recent years including MTM plastics and Ecoplast, which have a combined a capacity of 120,000 t/yr. Mechanically recycled products from Borealis, which come under the Borcycle-M brand, were recently granted approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used in food packaging. By George Barsted Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
Explore our polymers products
