Recycled resin prices remain strong.* Despite rising prices in 2003, recycled resins remained a bargain relative to virgin materials. At the same time, widespec grades tended to be scarce and pricey Pricey Term used for an unrealistically low bid price or unrealistically high offer price. pricey Of, relating to, or being an unrealistically high offer. An offer to sell a security at $50 when the current market price is $47 is pricey. . The only problem was that recyclers couldn't get their broads on enough material to meet demand. This year is starting off with recycle re·cy·cle tr.v. re·cy·cled, re·cy·cling, re·cy·cles 1. To put or pass through a cycle again, as for further treatment. 2. To start a different cycle in. 3. a. markets feeling many of the same pressures. Analysts expect recycled prices will continue to inch up for at least the first part of the year. R-HDPE going strong Recycled HDPE HDPE abbr. high-density polyethylene saw increases of as much as 5 cents/lb last year. One reason was that the pipe industry saw less of a November slowdown than usual--probably due in part to mild weather. Pipe is a huge consumer of recycled plastic. One recycler says, "Business will be strong to start off the year. Prices are likely to go up slightly." No ceiling yet for R-PP Recycled PP prices rose by up to 3 cents/lb in 2003, and that trend is probably not over yet. There is now reported to be a 10 cents/lb differential between virgin and recycled product. "The market is tight on the recycling recycling, the process of recovering and reusing waste products—from household use, manufacturing, agriculture, and business—and thereby reducing their burden on the environment. end," says one source. "Demand has been strong since August." R-PET is tight Recycled PET is in great demand and is likely to continue in that vein, recyclers say. Prices rose in the area of 3 cents/lb in the last year, and recyclers see no end in sight. There is less R-PET material available than in 2003, and demand has increased. Virgin producers are expected to seek more increases in 2004, which will trickle down Trickle down An economic theory that the support of businesses that allows them to flourish will eventually benefit middle- and lower-income people, in the form of increased economic activity and reduced unemployment. to recycled resins. Recyclers' optimism is also fed by strong export demand from China since last June. R-PVC prices stable--for now Recycled PVC PVC: see polyvinyl chloride. PVC in full polyvinyl chloride Synthetic resin, an organic polymer made by treating vinyl chloride monomers with a peroxide. is the one material where prices have remained stable for a year or more, and that is likely to be the story for 2004 as well. "Our pricing is based totally on supply and demand, and the market hasn't changed very much in the last year," says one recycler. "I expect demand will hold steady in 2004 or maybe even improve a bit." Another source expects demand to pick up even more in 2004, particularly in fencing fencing, sport of dueling with foil, épée, and saber. Modern Fencing The weapons and rules of modern fencing evolved from combat weapons and their usage. and siding. "The tough part is that it's not easy to find enough material to recycle, which could drive up prices," says this source. |
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