'Artificial Shortage' Boosts PP Prices.* The current pricing picture is somewhat paradoxical paradoxical different from what is expected; at variance with the established laws. paradoxical motion see paradoxical respiration (below). . Polypropylene polypropylene (pŏl'ēprō`pəlēn), plastic noted for its light weight, being less dense than water; it is a polymer of propylene. It resists moisture, oils, and solvents. supplies are tight despite overcapacity o·ver·ca·pac·i·ty n. Too great a capacity for production of commodities or delivery of services in relation to actual need: the problem of overcapacity in many large industries. . PVC PVC: see polyvinyl chloride. PVC in full polyvinyl chloride Synthetic resin, an organic polymer made by treating vinyl chloride monomers with a peroxide. suppliers announce higher tabs while market prices are actually falling. While PP producers took advantage of the temporary tightness to push through a small price increase, prospects for a PVC hike this year are more questionable. Meanwhile, polystyrene polystyrene (pŏl'ēstī`rēn), widely used plastic; it is a polymer of styrene. Polystyrene is a colorless, transparent thermoplastic that softens slightly above 100°C; (212°F;) and becomes a viscous liquid at around 185°C; prices remain weak. PP prices move up Polypropylene resin resin, any of a class of amorphous solids or semisolids. Resins are found in nature and are chiefly of vegetable origin. They are typically light yellow to dark brown in color; tasteless; odorless or faintly aromatic; translucent or transparent; brittle, fracturing producers succeeded in raising prices last month by as much as 3[cts.]/lb for wide-spec material and 1.5-2[cts.]/lb for many small to mid-sized buyers of prime resin. Large contract buyers are expected to start paying 1.5-2[cts.] more after Nov. 1. This is the result of the first of two rounds of announced increases for September September: see month. and October October: see month. . The second round of 3-4[cts.]/lb increases, with effective dates of Oct. 15 and Nov. 1, was still on the table in mid-October n. 1. the middle part of October. Noun 1. mid-October - the middle part of October period, period of time, time period - an amount of time; "a time period of 30 years"; "hastened the period of time of his recovery"; "Picasso's blue period" . Contributing factors: What producers term an "artificial" PP resin shortage has emerged as a result of a real crunch (1) To process data. See number crunching. (2) To compress data. See data compression. 1. (jargon) crunch - To process, usually in a time-consuming or complicated way. in propylene propylene /pro·pyl·ene/ (pro´pi-len) a gaseous hydrocarbon, CH3CHdbondCH2. propylene glycol a colorless viscous liquid used as a humectant and solvent in pharmaceutical preparations. monomer monomer (mŏn`əmər): see polymer. monomer Molecule of any of a class of mostly organic compounds that can react with other molecules of the same or other compounds to form very large molecules (polymers). supply. The resin shortage is "artificial" because producers have so much excess capacity that they are shutting older plants. Meanwhile, propylene monomer is short because of production cuts and planned maintenance shutdowns at ethylene ethylene (ĕth`əlēn') or ethene (ĕth`ēn), H2C=CH2, a gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbon. It is the simplest alkene. and propylene crackers. For example, ExxonMobil's 700-million-lb/yr propylene plant in Baton Rouge Baton Rouge (băt`ən r  zh) [Fr.,=red stick], city (1990 pop. 219,531), state capital and seat of East Baton Rouge parish, SE La. , La., was down for maintenance for two months. A leading PP
supplier said resin makers are lucky to get enough monomer to serve
their customers. As a result, resin makers are implementing temporary
allocation The apportionment or designation of an item for a specific purpose or to a particular place.In the law of trusts, the allocation of cash dividends earned by a stock that makes up the principal of a trust for a beneficiary usually means that the dividends will be treated as policies. "Processors are finding it hard to get any spot deals," says this source. "Suppliers are making sure they first take care of their core customers." At press time, industry sources were expecting monomer contract prices to jump 4[cts.]/lb in the September October period. PP suppliers will aim to get back at least that much from their two price moves. PVC hikes announced In September, PVC resin producers began announcing 2[cts.]/lb price hikes to take effect Oct. 1, but two major producers forced a delay. Formosa Plastics Formosa Plastics Corporation (Traditional Chinese: 台灣塑膠公司; lit. "Taiwan Plastic Company") is a Taiwanese company based in Taiwan that primarily produces polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins and initially gave customers until Oct. 15, but Georgia Georgia, country, Asia Georgia (jôr`jə), Georgian Sakartvelo, Rus. Gruziya, officially Republic of Georgia, republic (2005 est. pop. 4,677,000), c.26,900 sq mi (69,700 sq km), in W Transcaucasia. Gulf held off its start date until Nov. 1. That effectively put the increase off until Dec. 1, at the earliest, for buyers with 30-day price protection. In the meantime Adv. 1. in the meantime - during the intervening time; "meanwhile I will not think about the problem"; "meantime he was attentive to his other interests"; "in the meantime the police were notified" meantime, meanwhile , producers concede con·cede v. con·ced·ed, con·ced·ing, con·cedes v.tr. 1. To acknowledge, often reluctantly, as being true, just, or proper; admit. See Synonyms at acknowledge. 2. that PVC prices were actually sliding 2[cts.] lower over the past two months. Contributing factors: Despite the slow economy, PVC resin sales have held up reasonably well. Siding has done well for several months. Pipe also had a spurt spurt Vox populi A surge or abrupt ↑ in the size or speed of a thing. See Fat spurt, Growth spurt. of late-season orders for rush jobs before winter. Even so, resin producers say their capacity utilization Capacity Utilization measures the rate at which a firm makes use of their capital productive capacities, such as factories and machinery. Capacity Utilization generally rises when the economy is healthy and falls when demand softens. is only 78-82%, not the sort of level expected to support a price increase. Resin buyers interpret the call for higher prices as preemptive pre·emp·tive or pre-emp·tive adj. 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of preemption. 2. Having or granted by the right of preemption. 3. a. notice that resin producers want to stop the penny-a-month slide of recent months, not that they seriously expect to get higher prices before the first quarter of next year. Shintech still plans to start up the second 550-million-lb unit at its new Plaquemine, La., plant in December December: see month. . However, that capacity addition is seen by some industry sources as merely "replacing" the 600 million lb of capacity that Borden shuttered shut·ter n. 1. One that shuts, as: a. A hinged cover or screen for a window, usually fitted with louvers. b. in nearby Addis, La. PS prices still slipping Polystyrene prices eroded e·rode v. e·rod·ed, e·rod·ing, e·rodes v.tr. 1. To wear (something) away by or as if by abrasion: Waves eroded the shore. 2. To eat into; corrode. another 1.5-2/[cts.]/lb over the past two months. EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) A PostScript file format used to transfer a graphic image between applications and platforms. EPS files contain PostScript code as well as an optional preview image in TIFF, WMF, PICT or EPSI, the latter being an ASCII-only format. producers say prices over the course of 2001 has eroded 5-8[cts.]lb, leading producers to attempt a 2[cts.] increase last summer, but it fizzled. Contributing factors: Demand in packaging is all that PS has had going for it for several months. PP became scarcer recently (see above), so part of the cutlery cutlery, various types of implements for cutting, preparing, and eating food. In addition to different kinds of knives and the steels to sharpen them, the term usually encompasses forks and spoons. market swung from PP to PS. Construction-related foam insulation insulation (ĭn'səlā`shən, ĭn'sy  –), use of materials or devices to inhibit or prevent the conduction of heat or of electricity. sales have held up, but they
are expected to decline because they relate mostly to commercial uses
like shopping plazas shopping plazaNoun a shopping centre, usually a small group of stores built as a strip and hotels--not home building. Demand for durable packaging remains roughly 20% weaker than normal going into the Christmas season.
Market Prices Effective Mid-October [a]
RESIN GRADE [b] [cts.]/LB [phi]CU IN [c]
ABS
MED IMPACT 70-80 2.7-3.0
HI IMPACT 82-88 3.0-3.3
X-HI IMPACT 92-95 3.4-3.5
HI HEAT 102-110 3.8-4.1
PIPE 68-72 2.5-2.6
SHEET 77-80 2.8-2.9
TRANSPARENT 150-160 5.8-6.2
FITTINGS 78-82 2.9-3.0
PLATING 95-105 3.5-3.9
FLAME RET 118-129 5.2-5.7
STRUCT FM 83-97 3.6-4.3
10% GLASS 130-150 5.1-6.0
30% GLASS 126-146 5.8-6.7
ABS/PC ALLOY 135-140 5.5-6.8
ABS/PVC ALLOY 130-135 5.8-6.1
ABS/NYLON ALLOY 167-189 6.3-7.2
ACETAL
HOMOPOL 130-147 6.7-7.3
20% GLASS 160-220 9.0-12.4
COPOLYMER 133-137 6.8-7.0
25% GLASS 106-215 9.2-12.3
ACRYLIC
G-P 82-102 3.5-4.4
IMPACT 130-191 5.4-7.9
ACRYLONI-
TRILE COPOL
EXTRUSION 101-116 4.0-4.6
INJECTION 120-135 4.8-5.4
ALKYD 65-74 4.9-5.5
CELLULOSICS
ACETATE 187 8.6
CAB 184 7.9
CAP 184 7.9
DAP (G-P) 251-497 16.3-34.7
EPOXY
G-P RESIN 116-126 NA [d]
COMPOUNDS
C/B/T [e] 123-166 9.4-12.9
R/C/D [f] 208-271 15.3-20.1
SEMICONDUCTOR
NOVOLAC 193-228 13.1-15.9
ANHYDRIDE 188-268 13.9-19.2
EVA
INJECTION 60-95 2.4-4.0
FILM EXTRU 55-87 2.4-2.7
EVOH 265 11.3
FLUORO-
POLYMER
CTFE 4500 346.6
ECTFE 1400-1600 108.3-123.8
ETFE 1100-1600 73.6-107.1
FEP 925-1400 71.3-107.9
PFA 1700-2400 131.6-185.8
PTFE 450-900 34.8-69.7
PVDF 650-800 41.4-50.9
IONOMER
PACKAGING 127-166 4.3-6.0
INDUSTRIAL 150-244 5.0-8.3
LIQUID-
CRYSTAL
POLYMERS
INJECTION
MIN FILLED 690-1035 44.2-72.1
GLASS FILLED 695-895 40-52
CARBON FILED 1700-2000 83.2-138.6
UNFILLED 1000-1200 58-70
EXTRUSION
UNFILLED 1200-2200 60.5-110.9
MELAMINE
COMPOUND 90-94 5.5-5.6
MELAMINE/
PHENOLIC
COMPOUND 75-83 4.5-5.0
NYLON
TYPE 6 124-139 6.2-7.0
MIN FILLED 119-132 5.9-6.6
30% GLASS 150-160 7.2-7.7
TYPE 66 140-155 7.4-8.2
MIN FILLED 140-148 7.4-7.8
30% GLASS 180-190 8.8-9.3
TYPE 69 250-276 9.7-10.7
TYPE 6/10 286-313 12.4-13.6
TYFE 612 400 15.3
30% GLASS 309-311 14.7
40% GLASS 309 14.7
TYPE 46 295 12.6
TYPE 11 329-341 13.6-14.1
30% GLASS 331-350 15.0-15.8
40% GLASS 347-360 17.7-18.5
TYPE 12 318-341 12.1-13.0
30% GLASS 327-350 14.7-15.8
50% GLASS 299-340 15.8-17.8
TRANSPARENT
AMORPHOUS 247-360 10.3-15.0
PHENOLIC
MOLD COMP 55.5-67.5 2.8-4.0
REINFORCED
GRADES 100.5-267.5 6.0-15.9
POLYAMIDE-
IMIDE [g]
UNFILLED 2310-3045 124.7-104.4
30% GLASS 2250-2985 130.4-172.0
30% CARBON FIB. 3260-3950 173.6-210.5
POLYARYLATE 200-280 8.8-12.3
POLYARYL-
SULFONE 440 21.8
POLYBUTYLENE
G-P 94.96 3.1
FILM 88-91 2.9
PIPE
COLD WATER 116-120 3.9-4.0
HOT WATER 162-166 5.5-5.6
POLYCAR-
BONATE
INJECTION 138-165 5.9-7.0
20% GLASS 177-190 7.6-8.2
30% GLASS 178-217 7.6-9.3
EXTRUSION 127-145 5.4-6.2
BLOW MOLD 140-170 6.0-7.3
STRUCT FOAM 149-181 6.4-7.8
20% GLASS 235-255 10.1-11.0
FR 166-197 7.1-8.5
CD 135-155 5.8-6.6
POLYESTER (TP)
FBT TYPE
UNFILLED 143-150 6.9
HI-IMP 154-165 7.6
30% GLASS, FR 165-187 10.0
STRUCT FOAM 159-165 NA [d]
PET
BOTTLE (RAILCAR) 60-63 3.1-3.2
MOD PET
30% GLASS 132-143 7.4
55% GLASS 148-155 9.8
30% GLASS
FLAME RET 147-157 9.2
PETG COPOL 114-124 5.2-5.6
POLYESTER
THERMOSET
G-P ORTHO 60-68 NA [d]
ISOPHTHALIC 73-83 NA [d]
BIS-A 123-153 NA [d]
PEEK 4400 231
30% GLASS 3300 173
POLYETHER-
IMIDE 641-646 29.3-29.5
30% GLASS 526-531 24.0-24.2
POLYETHER-
KETONE (PEK) 2950 130.1
30% GLASS 2600 153
POLYETHER-
SULFONE 440 19.71
30% GLASS 372 20.01
POLYETHYLENE
(RAILCAR)
LDPE
G-P MOLDING
& EXTRU 48-50 1.6-1.7
INJECTION 48-50 1.6-1.7
LID RESIN 49-51 1.6-1.7
LINER 48-50 1.6-1.7
CLARITY 43-46 1.4-1.6
EXTRU COATG 47-49 1.6
BLOW MOLD 49-51 1.6-1.7
LLDPE,
BUTENE-
BASED
G-P MOLDING 36-38 1.3
FILM 35-38 1.3
ROTOMOLD 36-38 1.3
LLDPE,
HAO-BASED
G-P MOLDING 41-43 1.4
LID RESIN 44-46 1.4-1.5
LINER FILM 41-43 1.4
HDPE
G-P INJ MOLD 38-41 1.4
FILM 41-42 1.4
BLOW MOLD 41-43 1.4
HMW-HOPE
BLOW MOLDING 42-44 1.4
FILM 41-43 1.4
PIPE 47-49 1.5-1.6
UHMW-PE 100-125 3.6-3.7
PPE/PRO-
BASED RESIN
INJECTION 180 6.8
20% GLASS [h] 283 12.3
30% GLASS [h] 291 13.3
EXTRUSION [h] 242 9.2
STRUCT FM 231 NA [d]
PPS
40% GLASS 340-385 20-23
55% GLASS/
MINERAL 275-295 18
65% GLASS/
MINERAL 205-260 15-19
POLY-
PROPYLENE
(RAILCAR)
G-P HOMOPOL
INJECTION 33-35 1.1-1.2
EXTRUSION
FIBER 31-33 1.1
PROFILES 34-36 1.1-1.2
RANDOM COPOL
BLOW MOLDING 38-40 1.3
FILM 37-39 1.3
INJECTION 36-38 1.2-1.3
IMPACT COPOL
MED IMP 45-47 1.5
HI IMP 49-51 1.6-1.7
POLYSTYRENE
(RAILCAR)
G-P CRYSTAL 37-40 [down] 1.4-1.5
HI HEAT 38-41 [down] 1.5
HIPS 39-42 [down] 1.5-1.6
SUPER HI IMP 55-59 2.2
FR 81-92 3.0-3.5
STRUCT FM (FR) 93-95 NA
EPS
UNMODIFIED 75-79 [down arrow] NA [d]
MODIFIED 79-80 [down arrow] NA [d]
POLYSULFONE 440 19.71
10% GLASS 430 20.6
30% GLASS 372 20.01
POLYURE-
THANE (TP)
ESTER TYPE 185-255 8-11
ETHER TYPE 245-295 10.6-13
PU
ISOCYANATES
POLYMERIC MDI 105-115 NA [d]
80/20 TDI 110-120 NA [d]
PVC RESIN
(RAILCAR)
G-P HOMOPOL 29-33 [down arrow] NA [d]
PIPE 25-26 [down arrow] NA [d]
FILM 32-34 [down arrow] NA [d]
COPOLYMER
FLOORING 45-47 NA [d]
DISPERSION
HOMOPOLY 56-60 NA [d]
COPOLYMER 60-64 NA [d]
CPVC PIPE
COMPOUND 119 NA [d]
PVDC
EXTRUDABLE 162 NA [d]
SILICONES
MOLD. COMP. 581-640 38-1-39.3
SPECIALTY GR. 891-3148 NA [d]
SILICONE/EPOXY 339-343 22.5-22.8
STYRENE-
ACRYLIC 108-112 3.7-4.0
SAN (G.P) 72-80 2.8-3.1
STYRENE
MALEIC
ANHYDRIDE
G-P 110-115 4.2-4.3
HI IMP 130-140 4.2-4.5
FR 175-183 6.7-7.0
TP ELASTOMERS
OLEFINIC 70-76 24
POLYAMIDE 287-337 10.4-12.3
POLYESTER 200-310 8.8-13.6
STYRENIC 83-237 2.9-8.3
UREA MOLDING
COMPOUND
BLACK & BROWN 67-78 3.6-4.1
WHITE & IVORY 72 3.8
VINYL ESTER
COR RES 147 NA [d]
HEAT & COR RES 161 NA [d]
KEY. Colored areas indicate pricing activity. Ah arrow, ([down arrow]) indicates direction of price change. (a)Truckload truck·load n. The quantity that a truck can hold. truckload n → camión m lleno ; unless otherwise specified. (b)Unfilled, natural color, unless otherwise specified. (c)Based on typical or average density. (d)Not applicable. (e)Novolac and Novolac and anhydride anhydride (ănhī`drīd, –drĭd) [Gr.,=without water], chemical compound formed by removing water, H2O, from another compound; the anhydride can also react with water to form the original compound. grades for coils, bushings, transformers. (f)Novolac and anhydride grades for resistors, capacitors, diodes. (g)In quantities of 20,000 lb. (h)19,800-lb load. |
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