Spot Polyethylene prices continued to rally adding another $.01/lb and have now scored gains in each of the 3 weeks of 2012, for a total of $.06/lb. After finally securing the nickel increase in December, Polyethylene producers are now working to implement a $.06/lb increase, citing strong spot Ethylene prices. That said, one cannot ignore the substantial margins enjoyed by integrated producers further upstream in Ethane to Ethylene production an... [More]

Spot Polypropylene prices are on the move, adding another $.02/lb this week based on limited supplies and rising spot costs. A relatively light flow of offgrade railcars came through the market, but many of the cars were sold by week’s end as buyers, anticipating higher prices in February, began to scoop up well priced material. Distributor inventories are light and many PP grades are becoming difficult to source. Houston traders that had been st... [More]