Price Hikes Greet The New Year.* Polyethylene polyethylene (pŏl'ēĕth`əlēn), widely used plastic. It is a polymer of ethylene, CH2=CH2, having the formula (-CH2-CH2-)n and 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. suppliers aimed to get a jump on the new year with renewed efforts to raise prices this month. They are not alone: PVC PVC: see polyvinyl chloride. PVC in full polyvinyl chloride Synthetic resin, an organic polymer made by treating vinyl chloride monomers with a peroxide. , 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; , and engineering thermoplastics are also going up right away, and more hikes for PVC and PS prices are pending for Feb. 1. Also, epoxy resin epoxy resin (ēpok´sē,  pok´sē),n See resin, epoxy. prices went up last month. Rising oil and chemical 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 costs were blamed for these moves. Crude-oil prices jumped from a low of $10/barrel up to $24 last fall. Resin producers don't see price pressures fading fading fading skin coloring. See Arabian fading syndrome (below). Declining in body condition, general health, activity and productivity. Arabian fading syndrome general health is unimpaired. anytime soon, but some of them feel the worst is over. Says Mike Froman, business director of general-purpose resins for Ashland Specialty Chemical A Specialty chemical is a chemical produced for a specialized use. They are produced in lower volume than bulk chemicals, of which petrochemicals, made from oil feedstocks, are the most common. However, both are produced in a chemical plant. Co.'s Composite Polymers Div., "We expect that feedstock price increases resulting from oil prices will probably mitigate. We hear that a number of OPEC OPEC: see Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. OPEC in full Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Multinational organization established in 1960 to coordinate the petroleum production and export policies of its countries and others are very worried about oil getting much higher than $25/barrel because they know it has a significant effect on the Western economy. I suspect we won't see oil pricing move beyond the $25 level unless there is some catastrophe." Included in this month's report are some hints about future price trends for engineering thermoplastics and PET bottle resin. Although resin makers are very cautious about forecasting prices for the year ahead, they did offer some comments about important factors to watch--namely, supply/demand balance and feedstock costs. PE suppliers try again Despite falling to push through their sixth and last price hike of 1999, polyethylene suppliers announced increases across the board of 4[cents]/lb for Jan. 1. Initiated by Nova Chemicals NOVA Chemicals is a leading chemical company jointly headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, and the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, suburb of Moon Township. It was founded in 1954. The corporation's chemical assets are divided into two divisions: Olefins/Polyolefins and Styrenics. , the move swiftly gained support from other major players, including, Dow, Equistar, ExxonMobil, Union Carbide Union Carbide Corporation (Union Carbide) is one of the oldest chemical and polymers companies in the United States, and currently has more than 3,800 employees. , and Westlake. Phillips and Solvay scaled back their earlier 5[cents] increases to 4[cents]/lb. Contributing factors: After repeated delays, suppliers failed to get any of the 5[cents]/lb they had been seeking since Sept. 1. One factor was the collapse of an expected hike in ethylene ethylene (ĕth`əlēn') or ethene (ĕth`ēn), H2C=CH2, a gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbon. It is the simplest alkene. 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). prices of 1[cents]/lb. However, some industry sources thought a 0.5[cents]/lb increase for ethylene might squeak through Verb 1. squeak through - escape; "She squeaked by me" squeak by go across, pass, go through - go across or through; "We passed the point where the police car had parked"; "A terrible thought went through his mind" before the end of the year. PP tabs get a boost Polypropylene suppliers shrugged off the failure of their last hike of 1999 and have announced a similar 3[cents]/lb increase for Jan. 1 or Jan.15, depending on the supplier. The move appears to have widespread support from resin makers. Contributing factors: Suppliers did not unanimously support a 3[cent]/lb increase for Dec. 1, which would have been the fifth of the year. Demand has been good, but suppliers attribute this new hike to continued pricing pressure from 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. Escalating crude-oil prices were blamed for proposed increases of 0.5[cent] to 1.5[cent]/lb on December contracts for monomer. In mid-December, PP prices stood only 10-11[cent]/lb above propylene. Suppliers say this figure contrasts with a historical differential averaging about 16[cent]/lb. PS under pressure Polystyrene resin hikes are coming thick and fast enough to present a somewhat confusing con·fuse v. con·fused, con·fus·ing, con·fus·es v.tr. 1. a. To cause to be unable to think with clarity or act with intelligence or understanding; throw off. b. picture. BASF BASF Bar Association of San Francisco (since 1872; San Francisco, California) BASF Badische Anilin und Soda Fabrik (German chemical products company) BASF Builders Association of South Florida announced a 4[cent]/lb hike for Dec. and one of 3[cent]/lb for Jan. 15. Dow Plastics scaled back its Dec. 1 increase from 4[cent] to 3[cent]/lb for all grades except ignition-resistant types and is following it with another 3[cent] hike Feb. 1. Meanwhile, Nova announced 5[cent] higher PS tabs for Jan. 3. It looks like somewhere between 6[cent] and 9[cent] worth of increases are on the table for the first quarter, with questions remaining about when they will bite. Contributing factors: Styrene sty·rene n. A colorless oily liquid from which polystyrenes, plastics, and synthetic rubber are produced. Also called vinylbenzene. monomer supplies are very snug, and prices are up at least 6[cent]/lb in recent months. Several monomer producers are planning maintenance shutdowns at the end of this quarter, so supplies could get even tighter. PVC: Sellers' market PVC resin prices last month were unchanged from November, with no sign of the usual year-end softening softening /sof·ten·ing/ (sof´en-ing) malacia. softening a change of consistency, with loss of firmness or hardness. . Shintech supported the Dec. 1 increase of 2[cent]/lb announced by OxyChem and Formosa, so implementation of that hike by Jan. 1 seemed inevitable. But as of mid-December, Shintech had not joined most other suppliers in announcing a 2[cent] increase for Jan. 1, which would kick in for contract buyers on Feb. 1. Meanwhile, several large vinyl compounders have posted 3[cent]/lb higher tabs for January. Contributing factors: With demand strong and supplies tight, resin suppliers say this is the strongest sellers' market in a decade. Some large resin buyers reportedly have not locked up commitments for all their resin needs this year. Producers eliminated the 1[cent]/lb volume rebate rebate, partial refund of the total price paid for goods or services. In the United States, rebates were historically given by railroads to favored shippers as a return on transportation charges. from many contracts and even tried to do away with 30-day price protection, but customers rebelled. Engineering resins rise DuPont announced price increases for nylon, acetal acetal /ac·e·tal/ (as´e-t'l) 1. any of a class of organic compounds formed by combination of an aldehyde molecule and two alcohol molecules. 2. , and polyester polyester, synthetic fiber, produced by the polymerization of the product formed when an alcohol and organic acid react. The outstanding characteristic of polyesters is their ability to resist wrinkling and to spring back into shape when creased. , effective January 1. Dow, Solutia, and Ticona followed suit with hikes on nylons and liquid-crystal polymers. DuPont's increase for Zytel nylon 66 resins averages 5% for core grades and varies for specialty grades. Zytel nylon 6 will go up 10%. Delrin acetal will go up 5% for core grades (the first increase in about four years), and Rynite PET will get a 6% boost on average. Solutia's increase on general-purpose and specialty grades of Ascend nylon 66 extrusion resins ranges from 5% to 10%, effective Jan. 15. Dow plans to raise its Vydyne nylon 66 injection grades by 5% on Jan.10. (Dow's resin is made by Solutia.) Ticona came in with a 5% increase on its Celanese nylon 66 and Vectra LCPs, effective Jan. 17. Contributing factors: Suppliers cited increases in worldwide demand, rising feedstock costs, and the need to improve profits to support reinvestment Reinvestment Using dividends, interest and capital gains earned in an investment or mutual fund to purchase additional shares or units, rather than receiving the distributions in cash. 1. In terms of stocks, it is the reinvestment of dividends to purchase additional shares. in growing markets. Polycarbonate A category of plastic materials used to make a myriad of products, including CDs and CD-ROMs. supply is tight worldwide and will probably remain tight this year, 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. Mike Werner, product manager for Lexan PC at GE Plastics. He pegs demand growth at 78% in 1999. "We think 2000 will be at least as good as that, maybe even a point or two higher. Some capacity is coming on stream shortly, and more has been announced. We've already made plans for another plant in Cartagena, Spain For other places with the same name, see Cartagena (disambiguation). Cartagena ( ." Werner also says that PBT PBT Provider Backbone Transport (networking technology adding determinism to ethernet) PBT Polybutylene Terephthalate PBT Profit Before Tax PBT Paper Based Test (education) demand grew around 6% last year and should do about as well this year. Meanwhile, nylon 66 markets are growing close to 8%/yr, according to Tim Strehl, Solutia's nylon business manager. Acetal has seen around 4%/yr growth. Its price is mainly affected by the price of methanol methanol, methyl alcohol, or wood alcohol, CH3OH, a colorless, flammable liquid that is miscible with water in all proportions. Methanol is a monohydric alcohol. It melts at −97. , which has been fairly stable. Epoxies This article is about the band named the Epoxies. For the adhesive, see Epoxy. The Epoxies are an American band from Portland, Oregon formed in 2000. Heavily influenced by punk rock and New Wave the band has described themselves as robot garage rock. are up, too Higher epoxy resin prices were announced for Dec. 1 by Dow and Dec. 15 by Ciba Specialty Chemicals “Ciba” redirects here. For the pre-1971 company, see Novartis. Ciba Specialty Chemicals is a chemical company based in and near Basel, Switzerland. It was formed as the non-pharmaceuticals elements of Novartis were spun out in 1997, following the merger in the . There was no word from Shell at press time. Dow's increase was 6[cent]/lb for solid epoxies and solid solution resins (600 series), liquid resins (300 series), epoxy epoxy Any of a class of thermosetting polymers, polyethers built up from monomers with an ether group that takes the form of a three-membered epoxide ring. The familiar two-part epoxy adhesives consist of a resin with epoxide rings at the ends of its molecules and a curing blends, hardeners (50 and 80 series only), epoxy glycol glycol (glī`kōl), dihydric alcohol in which the two hydroxyl groups are bonded to different carbon atoms; the general formula for a glycol is (CH2)n(OH)2. resins (700 series), D.E.N. novolac resins, and brominated resins (530 series). The 592 series brominated resins rose 20[cents]/lb. Ciba's increase of 6[cents] covered most of its epoxy resins epoxy resins, group of synthetic resins used to make plastics and adhesives. These materials are noted for their versatility, but their relatively high cost has limited their use. , including liquid, brominated, modified, solution, and solid types. Specialty laminating lam·i·nate v. lam·i·nat·ed, lam·i·nat·ing, lam·i·nates v.tr. 1. To beat or compress into a thin plate or sheet. 2. To divide into thin layers. 3. resins will go up 20[cents]/lb, and multifunctional resins will rise 3[cents]. PET tabs could rise further In December, resin makers were looking to implement the third price hike of the year, which had been pushed back from Oct. 1. At least part of the 3[cents] hike was expected to go through. Some materials suppliers and industry analysts predict that PET bottle-resin prices will move upward again in 2000. The second quarter, when demand is traditionally higher, is the most likely time for an increase. A source at Houston-based market analyst ICIS-LOR says increases are likely to moderate. "We expect that price hikes in PET will go back to being issued quarterly and will be 2-3[cents]/lb instead of the 5[cents]/lb increases that we saw in the first half of 1999." Contributing factors: Suppliers attribute their latest price moves to substantial increases in paraxylene and ethylene glycol ethylene glycol: see glycol. ethylene glycol Simplest member of the glycol family, also called 1,2-ethanediol (HOCH2CH2OH). It is a colourless, oily liquid with a mild odour and sweet taste. feedstocks. Business has not been profitable, they say, and they cannot absorb such cost increases. The outlook of most industry sources is that the PET business is moving more toward balanced supply and demand after at least three years of a supply glut glut pronounced as rut, slut Vox populi An excess of a service or skilled labor in a particular area. See Physician glut. and record low prices. During this time, suppliers say they have operated below reinvestment levels. That situation has since turned in sellers' favor. "We're forecasting tighter supplies next year, particularly through the second quarter," says one leading producer. The only new capacity last year was Wellman's 470 million lb/yr in Pearl River Pearl River, uninc. village (1990 pop. 15,314), Rockland co., SE N.Y., near the N.J. line. It is a residential suburb of New York City, and a computer and telecommunications research and development center. Pearl River River, central Mississippi, U. , Miss. That capacity is said to have been mostly absorbed by the market already. The next major addition will be Nan Ya Plastics' 440-million-lb/yr plant in Lake City, S. C., but its completion has been pushed back from mid-2000 to early 2001. PET demand is conservatively expected to grow 10-12% in 2000. According to ICIS-LOR, the new supply may not be enough to meet that demand.
Market Prices Effective Mid-December [a]
RESIN GRADE [b] [cent]/LB [cent]/CU IN [c]
ABS
MED IMPACT 89-91 3.4
HI IMPACT 94-100 3.7
X-HI IMPACT 102-105 3.9
HI HEAT 117-121 4.7
PIPE 78-82 2.6-3.0
SHEET 87-90 3.4
TRANSPARENT 152-158 5.7-5.9
FITTINGS 88-92 3.3-3.4
PLATING 105-115 4.0
FLAME RET 122-130 5.7
STRUCT FM 103-107 NA [d]
10% GLASS 140-160 6.0-6.1
30% GLASS 136-156 6.0-7.2
ABS/PC ALLOY 145-150 6.0-6.1
ABS/PVC ALLOY 140-145 6.0-6.1
ABS/NYLON ALLOY 177-199 7.0-8.0
ACETAL
HOMOPOL 123-127 6.1-6.4
20% GLASS 142-150 7.9-8.4
COPOLYMER 123-127 6.1-6.4
25% GLASS 142-150 7.9-8.4
ACRYLIC
G-P 78-92 3.3-3.9
IMPACT 122-173 5.0-7.2
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 1100 70.1
ETFE 1230-1600 79.3
FEP 1000-1500 70.5-75.6
PFA 1850-2400 143.1-185.7
PTFE 500-900 39-70.3
PVDF 650-700 41.7-44.9
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 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 6 129-133 5.9
MIN FILLED 122-130 6.3
30% GLASS 156-160 7.7
TYPE 66 136-143 6.8
MIN FILLED 128-136 6.4
30% GLASS 168-178 8.4
TYPE 69 250-276 9.7-10.7
TYPE 6/10 286-313 12.4-13.6
TYPE 612 286-327 11.4-13.2
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 15.6-17.8
TRANSPARENT
AMORPHOUS 247-360 10.3-15.0
PHENOLIC
MOLD COMP 55.5-87.5 2.8-4.0
REINFORCED
GRADES 100.5-267.5 6.0-15.9
POLYAMIDE-
IMIDE [g]
UNFILLED 2310-2910 118.4-148.4
30% GLASS 2258-2780 118.8-146.9
30% CARBON FIB. 3260-3750 174.0-200.4
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
POLYCARBONATE
INJECTION 148-163 6.7
20% GLASS 178-190 8.9
30% GLASS 188-217 10.4
EXTRUSION 137-145 5.9
BLOW MOLD 150-170 6.7
STRUCT FOAM 159-181 NA [d]
20% GLASS 245-255 NA [d]
FR 176-197 8.2
CD 185-200 9.6
POLYESTER (TP)
PBT TYPE
UNFILLED 143-150 8.9
HI-IMP 154-165 7.6
30% GLASS, FR 165-187 10.0
STRUCT FOAM 159-165 NA [d]
PET
BOTTLE (RAILCAR) 51-56 2.6-2.8
MOD PET
30% GLASS 132-143 7.4
55% GLASS 148-155 9.8
30% GLASS,
FLAME RET 147-157 9.2
PETG COPOL 98 45
POLYESTER
THERMOSET
G-P ORTHO 57-65 NA [d]
ISOPHTHALIC 60-70 NA [d]
BIS-A 120-150 NA [d]
PEEK 3400 109.3
30% GLASS 2625 110.0
POLYETHER-
IMIDE 841 29.3
30% GLASS 526 28.5
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 53-55 1.8
INJECTION 53-55 1.8
LID RESIN 55-57 1.8-1.9
LINER 53-55 1.8
CLARITY 57-59 1.9-2.0
EXTRU COATG 56-58 1.9
BLOW MOLD 58-60 1.9-2.0
LLDPE,
BUTENE-
BASED
G-P MOLDING 45-47 1.5-1.6
FILM 44-46 1.5
ROTOMOLD 45-47 1.5-1.6
LLDPE,
HAO-BASED
G-P MOLDING 50-52 1.7
LID RES1N 53-55 1.8
LINER FILM 50-52 1.7
HDPE
G-P NJ MOLD 42-44 1.4-1.5
FILM 49-51 1.7
BLOW MOLD 45-47 1.5-1.6
HMW-HDPE
BLOW MOLDING 49-51 1.7
FILM 52-54 1.8
PIPE 54-56 1.8-1.9
UHMW-PE 100-125 3.6-3.7
PPE/PPO-
BASED RESIN
INJECTION 180 6.8
20% [GLASS.sup.h] 283 12.3
30% [GLASS.sup.h] 291 13.3
[EXTRUSION.sup.h] 242 9.2
STRUCT FM 231 NA [d]
PPS
40% GLASS 320-330 19-20
55% GLASS/
MINERAL 275-295 18
65% GLASS/
MINERAL 220-250 15-17
POLY-
PROPYLENE
(RAILCAR)
G-P HOMOPOL
INJECTION 34-36 1.1-1.2
EXTRUSION
FIBER 32-34 1.0-1.1
PROFILES 35-37 1.1-1.2
RANDOM COPOL
BLOW MOLDING 39-41 1.2-1.3
FILM 39-41 1.2-1.3
INJECTION 38-40 1.2-1.3
IMPACT COPOL
MED IMP 43-45 1.4-1.5
HI IMP 47-49 1.5-1.6
POLYSTYRENE
(RAILCAR)
G-P CRYSTAL 40-44 1.5-1.6
HI HEAT 41-45 1.5-1.6
HIPS 42-46 1.5-1.7
SUPER HI IMP 56-62 2.1-2.3
FR 81-92 3.4-3.8
STRUCT FM (FR) 91-93 NA
EPS
UNMODIFIED 75-79 NA [d]
MODIFIED 79-80 NA [d]
POLYSULFONE 440 19.71
10% GLASS 430 20.6
30% GLASS 372 20.01
POLYURE-
THANE (TP)
ESTER TYPE 180-250 8.0-10.5
ETHER TYPE 240-290 10.3-11.5
PU
ISOCYANATES
POLYMERIC MDI 90-96 NA [d]
80/20 TDI 90-105 NA [d]
PVC RESIN
(RAILCAR)
G-P HOMOPOL 36.38 NA [d]
PIPE 31.33 NA [d]
FILM 36-38 NA [d]
COPOLYMER
FLOORING 44-46 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) 85-88 3.3
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 67-78 3.6-4.1
WHITE & IVORY 72 3.6
VINYL ESTER
CORRES 144 NA [d]
HEAT & COR RES 158 NA [d]
KEY: Colored areas indicate pricing activity. An 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. (d.) 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. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion