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.
OMV starts up plastic-waste-to-oil unit ReOil
OMV starts up plastic-waste-to-oil unit ReOil
London, 20 March (Argus) — Austrian refiner OMV said that it has "successfully started up" the new pyrolysis chemical recycling plant at its Schwechat, Austria site. The plant uses OMV's pyrolysis technology, known as ReOil, and has capacity to process 16,000t/yr of plastic waste. ReOil is a chemical recycling technology that converts end-of-life plastics into pyrolysis oil feedstock for the production of chemicals and new plastics. OMV announced in August 2024 that it had finished building the plant and would begin work on a "gradual start-up". The plant is integrated with the petrochemical site at Schwechat, operated by OMV's petrochemicals arm Borealis. OMV said on 12 March that it had received €81.6mn of EU funding for a new, larger ReOil plant, in which it is deciding whether to invest. By Will Collins Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Berry increases recycled resin purchases
Berry increases recycled resin purchases
Houston, 19 March (Argus) — Indiana-based packaging company Berry Global last year boosted recycled resin to 5.5pc of the company's total resin purchase on rising use of post-consumer resin (PCR). Combined PCR and post-industrial recycled resin (PIR) purchases rose by 0.7 percentage points in 2024 from 4.8pc in 2023, the company reported on Tuesday. PCR resin purchases increased by 43pc and accounted for 5.1pc of the Berry's total resin purchases in 2024, up from 3.6pc in 2023. The company's PIR purchases fell to 0.4pc from 1.2pc in 2023. Berry is still 4.9 percentage points away from its 2025 goal of achieving 10pc post-consumer recycled content across its single-use consumer goods portfolio. The company's bioplastics purchasing rose to 1.5pc of total resin, up from 0.6pc in 2023. Including internally recycled resin and bioplastics, Berry's overall usage of circular plastics rose to 11pc in 2024, up from 9.7pc in 2023. The company aims to use 30pc circular plastics in its consumer packaging by 2030. By Zach Kluver Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU plastic recycling needs decisive action: PRE
EU plastic recycling needs decisive action: PRE
London, 19 March (Argus) — Decisive action is essential to support the European plastic recycling industry in its struggle with import pressure and high costs, industry association Plastic Recyclers Europe (PRE) president Ton Emans said. "We urge EU policymakers to take a fast and strong political stance, introducing effective import controls and enforcing existing legislation, including the restriction of importing materials which do not meet equivalent EU sustainability and safety standards," Emans said. PRE noted that high energy prices and costs for plastic waste feedstock are causing difficulties for recyclers, with rising plastic waste exports from Europe showing an "alarming shift away from in-region recycling efforts". The association said exports were 36pc higher in 2024 than in 2022, while data from Global Trade Tracker show that EU exports listed as "waste, parings and scrap of plastics" rose by 45pc over the same period. Exports of plastic waste are particularly impactful for the flexible PE recycling industry, with large volumes of flexible PE waste sold from Europe to recyclers in Turkey and southeast Asia. Recyclers are also being "undercut by cheaper imported materials", PRE said. PRE highlighted recent capacity closures as signs of the pressure faced by European recyclers. "The total capacity of facilities that shut down in 2024 doubled compared to 2023, and the situation is intensifying in 2025, impacting both small and large companies alike," the association said. Recent capacity losses in the EU have included 17,000 t/yr HDPE and PP recycler Stiphout Plastics, which was pronounced bankrupt in December, while Flexible PE recycler Repeats Group decided to suspend production at most of the recycling lines at its plant in Zutphen in the Netherlands earlier this month. The UK's recycling industry has also been under pressure, with Viridor Polymers deciding to close its 80,000 t/yr Avonmouth PET, HDPE and PP recycling plant late last year. By Will Collins Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Blue Polymers opens first recycling plant
Blue Polymers opens first recycling plant
Houston, 18 March (Argus) — Blue Polymers, a joint venture between compounder Ravago and material recovery facility (MRF) operator Republic Services, has opened its first recycled resin plant in Indianapolis. In February, Republic Services finished construction on a secondary sortation plant which adjoins the Blue Polymers building. The Indianapolis, Indiana, plant is expected to produce more than 175mn lb/year of recycled plastic, including food-grade rHDPE, rPP and rPET for use in packaging. HDPE and PP recycled feedstocks will be color-sorted at Republic Services' sortation plant and then sent to Blue Polymers to be compounded and pelletized. Blue Polymers' second recycling plant in Buckeye, Arizona, is still under construction, and a third plant in the US northeast is planned as well. Both will be accompanied by sortation plants operated by Republic Services. By Zach Kluver Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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