9 Resins Under Pressure: The Middle East Conflict, Feedstock Spikes & Buyer Strategy
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Show Notes
This week on Resin Market Moves, Michael Workman covers the most consequential week in resin pricing in recent memory — and breaks down exactly what buyers should do about it.
The conflict in the Middle East has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to meaningful trade flow. Over 20% of global crude and more than 5% of global PP moves through that channel. It is not moving right now. The result: feedstock costs spiking across the board, producers pushing increases in every major resin simultaneously, and export demand pulling hard at US domestic supply.
This is not a single-resin story. This is a portfolio-level event. And the buyers who understand what is driving each specific market — as opposed to accepting every increase as inevitable — will protect their margins in Q2.
WHAT WE COVER:
- PE: Up to $0.10/lb March, $0.15/lb April. Brent at $110–$115. Ethylene toward 30 cents/lb.
- PP: PGP spot at 51 cents/lb, a 50%+ jump month to date. Invista PDH still offline. One producer at +10 cents/lb April.
- PS: BZ above $4.00/gal. AmSty 17 cents/lb for April. February supply/demand data actually supports the move.
- PVC: 3–5 cents/lb March. Heavy turnaround season. One supplier at 7 cents/lb for April.
- ABS: Celanese $0.20/lb and INEOS $0.15/lb for April. Acrylonitrile up $0.19/lb week over week.
- PET: Indorama moving immediately. APG and Celanese following. World Cup demand tailwind ahead.
- PC, PA6, PA66: Celanese moving across engineered materials. April the focus. Demand still soft.
- The 5 things smart buyers are doing right now before Q2 locks in.
RESOURCES:
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