Hurricane Katrina whips up prices.* The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. is still blowing through the
plastics market, as storm damage restricts production and transportation
of crucial feedstocks like ethylene ethylene (ĕth`əlēn') or ethene (ĕth`ēn), H2C=CH2, a gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbon. It is the simplest alkene. and 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. . Suppliers rushed through price hikes on polyolefins polyolefins (pŏl'ēōl`əfən), group of plastics that are polymers of various alkenes, or olefins. The most important are polyethylene and polypropylene. and PET bottle 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 last month, and more increases are already in the pipeline. Higher prices for PVC PVC: see polyvinyl chloride. PVC in full polyvinyl chloride Synthetic resin, an organic polymer made by treating vinyl chloride monomers with a peroxide. and PS are probably not far behind. Disrupted dis·rupt tr.v. dis·rupt·ed, dis·rupt·ing, dis·rupts 1. To throw into confusion or disorder: Protesters disrupted the candidate's speech. 2. power and other utilities, plus delays in rail, truck, and marine transportation, caused temporary shutdowns of feedstock feed·stock n. Raw material required for an industrial process. Noun 1. feedstock - the raw material that is required for some industrial process raw material, staple - material suitable for manufacture or use or finishing facilities on the Gulf Coast, some of which were still operating at reduced rates in mid-September n. 1. the middle part of September. Noun 1. mid-September - the middle part of September 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 . Some PET and polyolefin polyolefin synthetic material used for surgical sutures, e.g. in polyethylene and polypropylene sutures. plants also shut down temporarily. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Houston-based Chemical Market Resources (CMR CMR Crude mortality rate, see there ), about 16% of U.S. PE capacity and 10% of PP is in regions affected by the hurricane. The hurricane isn't is·n't Contraction of is not. isn't is not isn't be the whole story behind rising prices for PE and PP. Prices were on the upswing Upswing An upward turn in a security's price after a period of falling prices. even before the storm because of strong rebounds in market demand and tightness in 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). supplies. Meanwhile, the storm's impact on other resins resins, n.pl complex, insoluble, sticky substances secreted by plants. Used as astringents, antimicrobials, and antiinflammatories, and are burned as incense. Can cause oral ulcers and epidermal irritations. is even greater. Over 60% of PVC and nearly 30% of 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; are produced in the affected Gulf Coast region, according to CMR. Although equipment in most of the resin plants was not harmed, high water levels caused concern about possible electrical fires. Also, many plant employees affected by the hurricane are now scattered Scattered Used for listed equity securities. Unconcentrated buy or sell interest. in other parts of the country. Most of the raw materials for these resins are brought in by barges to the ports of New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded and Gulfport Gulfport, city (1990 pop. 40,775), seat of Harrison co., SE Miss., a port on Mississippi Sound, the Gulf of Mexico, in a resort area; inc. 1898. A port of entry, it receives large shipments of bananas. , Miss., but barge barge, large boat, generally flat-bottomed, used for transporting goods. Most barges on inland waterways are towed, but some river barges are self-propelled. There are also sailing barges. traffic on the Mississippi Mississippi, state, United States Mississippi (mĭs'əsĭp`ē), one of the Deep South states of the United States. It is bordered by Alabama (E), the Gulf of Mexico (S), Arkansas and Louisiana, with most of the border formed by is now restricted. Some suppliers of PVC and PS were aiming for higher prices even before the hurricane. But there was no unified industry support for price hikes. At press time, PVC and PS suppliers were still taking stock of the impact on their plants, including availability of raw materials and labor, and had made no announcements about prices. PE prices up Polyethylene polyethylene (pŏl'ēĕth`əlēn), widely used plastic. It is a polymer of ethylene, CH2=CH2, having the formula (-CH2-CH2-)n prices moved up 7 cents to 9 cents/lb in September September: see month. . This follows two 6 cents increases in July July: see month. and August. Moreover, a new price increase of 5 cents was to take effect Oct. 1. (In the first half of the year, PE prices had sunk 10 cents/lb.) Contributing factors: Hurricane Katrina worsened already tight ethylene supplies. Spot ethylene prices were up as high as 55 cents/lb by mid-September. Before the storm, PE resin plants were running full out to meet the rebound rebound (rē´bownd), n/v 1. a recovery from illness. n 2. an outbreak of fresh reflex activity after withdrawal of a stimulus rebound adjective in demand that became evident in June. PP also rises 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. prices moved up 6 cents/lb in September. Another 6 cents increase was announced for Oct. 1. At least two major suppliers confirmed that a third hike was being considered for as soon as Oct. 15. Unconfirmed reports held that Sunoco slated a 10 cents increase for Oct. 15. Contributing factors: The hurricane exacerbated a tight supply/demand situation. PP markets were on a strong rebound since July, and processors' inventories had sunk to a 12-month low. Propylene monomer contract prices had moved up 3 cents/lb by the end of August and another 5 cents in September. Industry analysts expected an even larger increase in October. PET prices climb Bottle resin prices approached $1/lb in September, the result of a 7 cents/lb increase and "temporary" post-Katrina surcharges of 8 cents to 16 cents/lb, depending on the supplier. A new hike of 8 cents/lb was announced for Oct. 1. Contributing factors: What drove the increases were temporary shutdowns of PET plants by DAK n. 1. Post; mail; also, the mail or postal arrangements; - spelt also dawk sp>, and dauk sp>. Dak boat a mail boat. Dak bungalow a traveler's rest-house at the end of a dak stage. - Percy Smith. Americas and Wellman due to disrupted feedstock supplies. Feedstock prices also rose sharply, reversing the trend of the first half of the year, when declining feedstock costs led PET prices down 7 cents/lb despite a 6% uptick Uptick A transaction occurring at price above its previous transaction. In order for an uptick to occur, a transaction price must be followed by an increased transaction price. in demand over the first half of 2004. More increases Suppliers of unsaturated unsaturated /un·sat·u·rat·ed/ (un-sach´ur-at?ed) 1. not holding all of a solute which can be held in solution by the solvent. 2. denoting compounds in which two or more atoms are united by double or triple bonds. polyesters raised prices for the first time since April. AOC AOC, n an acronym for the Aromatherapy Organizations Council. , CCP (Certified Computer Professional) The award for successful completion of a comprehensive examination on computers offered by the ICCP. See ICCP and certification. . 1. (language) CCP - Concurrent Constraint Programming. 2. , Interplastic, and Reichhold hiked polyesters, vinyl esters Vinyl Ester, or Vinylester, is a resin produced by the esterification of an epoxy resin with an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid. The reaction product is then dissolved in a reactive solvent, such as styrene, to a 35 - 45 percent content by weight. , and gel coats by 10 cents/lb between Sept. 20 and Oct. 1. Among other Oct. I increases: Rhodia raised nylons 6% to 9%; Ticona hiked UHMW-PE UHMW-PE Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene 11.5%; and Dow (Direct OverWrite) See magneto-optic disk. Polyurethanes polyurethanes (pŏl'ēy  r`əthānz), group of plastics that may be either thermosetting or thermoplastic. Polyurethane can be made into both flexible and rigid foams. lifted tabs on TDI TDI - Transport Driver Interface by 10
cents/lb and polyols polyols (pol´ēôlz),n.pl substances made up of two or more alcohols. See also sugar alcohols. by 6 cents/lb.
Market Prices Effective Mid-September (a)
RESIN GRADE (b) cents/LB cents/CU IN (c)
ABS
MED IMPACT 80-90 3.0-3.4
HI IMPACT 85-95 3.2-3.6
X-HI IMPACT 95-105 3.6-4.0
HI HEAT 85-95 3.2-3.6
PIPE 80-110 3.0-4.2
SHEET 90-110 3.4-4.2
TRANSPARENT 125-165 4.9-6.4
FITTINGS 85-115 3.2-4.3
PLATING 95-105 3.5-3.9
FLAME RET 120-140 4.6-5.9
STRUCT FM 83-97 3.6-4.3
10% GLASS 125-140 5.0-5.6
30% GLASS 116-136 5.3-6.3
ABS/PC ALLOY 145-180 5.5-6.8
ABS/PVC ALLOY 130-135 5.8-6.1
ABS/NYLON ALLOY 190 7.3
ACETAL
HOMOPOL 130-147 6.7-7.3
20% GLASS 160-220 9.0-12.4
COPOLYMER 133-145 6.8-7.4
25% GLASS 160-230 8.1-11.7
ACRYLIC
G-P 129-164 5.4-6.9
IMPACT 174-234 7.3-9.9
ACRYLONI-
TRILE COPOL
EXTRUSION 78-110 3.3-4.7
INJECTION 130-191 5.4-7.9
ALKYD 65-74 4.9-5.5
CELLULOSICS
ACETATE 187 8.6
CAB 189 8.2
CAP 189 8.2
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 46-52 1.5-1.7
FILM EXTRU 42-49 1.4-1.6
EVOH 265 11.3
FLUORO-
POLYMER
CTFE 2500-5500 193-424
ECTFE 1470-1680 93.1-107.7
ETFE 1155-1680 70.7-102.8
FEP 971-1470 74.8-113.2
PFA 1785-2520 134.9-190.5
PTFE 450-900 34.8-69.7
PVDF 680-900 43.3-57.3
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 FILLED 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 6 139-159 5.7-6.5
MIN FILLED 131-144 5.4-5.9
30% GLASS 148-173 6.0-7.0
TYPE 66 153-168 6.3-6.9
MIN FILLED 151-159 6.2-6.5
30% GLASS 142-192 5.8-7.9
TYPE 69 250-276 9.7-10.7
TYPE 6/10 286-313 12.4-13.6
TYPE 612 400 15.3
30% GLASS 309-311 14.7
40% GLASS 309 14.7
TYPE 46 295 12.6
TYPE ll 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 15.6-17.8
TRANSPARENT
AMORPHOUS 247-360 10.3-15.0
PHENOLIC
MOLD COMP 75 3.8
REINFORCED
GRADES 105-268 6.1-16
POLYAMIDE-
IMIDE (g)
UNFILLED 2750 148.5
30% GLASS 2500 135
30% CARBON FIB. 3500 185
POLYARYLATE 200-280 8.8-12.3
POLYARYL-
SULFONE 440 21.8
POLYETHYLENE
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 5.5-7.0
20% GLASS 177-190 7.6-8.2
30% GLASS 178-217 7.6-9.3
EXTRUSION 145-180 6.3-7.8
BLOW MOLD 155-190 6.7-8.2
STRUCT FOAM 149-181 6.4-7.8
20% GLASS 235-255 10.1-11.0
FR 166-197 7.1-8.5
CD 140-200 6.0-8.6
POLYESTER (TP)
PBT 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) 98-100 [up arrow]# 45-5.0 [up arrow]#
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 115-120 NA (d)
ISOPHTHALIC 140-150 NA (d)
BIS-A 185-190 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 350-400 17.2-19.7
30% GLASS 425-525 21-25.9
POLYETHYLENE
(RAILCAR)
LDPE
G-P MOLDING
& EXTRU 83-85 [up arrow]# 2.7-2.8 [up arrow]#
INJECTION 84-86 [up arrow]# 2.8 [up arrow]#
LID RESIN 8&-88 [up arrow]# 2.8-2.9 [up arrow]#
LINER 82-84 [up arrow]# 2.7-2.8 [up arrow]#
CLARITY 79-81 [up arrow]# 2.6-2.7 [up arrow]#
EXTRU COATG 84-86 [up arrow]# 2.7-2.8 [up arrow]#
BLOW MOLD 86-88 [up arrow]# 2.8-2.9 [up arrow]#
LLDPE,
BUTENE-
BASED
G-P MOLDING 70-72 [up arrow]# 2.3-2,4 [up arrow]#
FILM 72-74 [up arrow]# 2.4-2.5 [up arrow]#
ROTOMOLD 74-76 [up arrow]# 2.5 [up arrow]#
LLDPE,
HAO-BASED
G-P MOLDING 84-86 [up arrow]# 2.8 [up arrow]#
LID RESIN 85-87 [up arrow]# 2.8-2.9 [up arrow]#
LINER FILM 78-80 [up arrow]# 2.6 [up arrow]#
HDPE
G-P INJ MOLD 71-73 [up arrow]# 2.4-2.5 [up arrow]#
FILM 81-83 [up arrow]# 2.8 [up arrow]#
BLOW MOLD 75-77 [up arrow]# 2.6 [up arrow]#
HMW-HDPE
BLOW MOLDING 80-82 [up arrow]# 2.7-2.8 [up arrow]#
FILM 82-84 [up arrow]# 2.8-2.9 [up arrow]#
PIPE 88-91 [up arrow]# 3.0-3.1 [up arrow]#
UHMW-PE 100-125 3.6-3.7
PPE/PPO-
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 357-404 21.2-24.0
55% GLASS/
MINERAL 289-310 20.8-22.3
65% GLASS/
MINERAL 226-273 15.5-18.7
POLY-
PROPYLENE
(RAILCAR)
G-P HOMOPOL
INJECTION 74-76 [up arrow]# 24-2.5 [up arrow]#
EXTRUSION
FIBER 74-76 [up arrow]# 2.4-2.5 [up arrow]#
PROFILES 82-84 [up arrow]# 2.7 [up arrow]#
RANDOM COPOL
BLOW MOLDING 80-82 [up arrow]# 2.6-2.7 [up arrow]#
FILM 79-81 [up arrow]# 2.6 [up arrow]#
INJECTION 78-80 [up arrow]# 2.5-2.6 [up arrow]#
IMPACT COPOL
MED IMP 88-90 [up arrow]# 2.9 [up arrow]#
HI IMP 91-93 [up arrow]# 2.9-10 [up arrow]#
POLYSTYRENE
(RAILCAR)
G-P CRYSTAL 63-71 2.4-2.7
HI HEAT 66-74 2.5-2.8
HIPS 64-72 2.4-2.7
SUPER HI IMP 74-80 2.8-3.0
FR 82-91 3.1-3.4
STRUCT FM (FR) 90-93 NA
EPS
UNMODIFIED 85-88 NA (d)
MODIFIED 86-90 NA (d)
POLYSULFONE 432-512 19.3-22.9
10% GLASS 607-612 27-27.3
30% GLASS 557-562 24.9-25
POLYURE-
THANE (TP)
ESTER TYPE 185-255 8-11
ETHER TYPE 245-295 10.6-13
PU
ISOCYANATES (i)
POLYMERIC MIDI 120-135 NA (d)
80/20 TDI 90-98 NA (d)
PVC RESIN
(RAILCAR)
G-P HOMOPOL 49-51 NA (d)
PIPE 46-48 NA (d)
FILM 58-60 NA (d)
COPOLYMER
FLOORING 63-65 NA (d)
DISPERSION
HOMOPOLY 62-78 NA (d)
COPOLYMER 77-81 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) 66-74 2.5-2.8
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 2.4
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 76 3.8
WHITE & IVORY 81 4.0
VINYL ESTER
COR RES 185-197 NA (d)
HEAT & COR RES 210 NA (d)
KEY: Colored areas indicate pricing activity.
An arrow (') indicates direction of price change.
(a) Truckload, unless otherwise specified.
(b) Unfilled, natural color, unless otherwise specified.
(c) Based on typical or average density.
(d) Not applicable.
(e) Novolac and anhydride 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.
(i) Prices include benzene surcharge.
Note: Colored areas indicate pricing activity indicated with #.
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