High-density polyethylene (HDPE) spot prices surge in Europe

This week, HDPE spot prices rose sharply in the European region.

A European industry source while requesting to remain unidentified informed a Polymerupdate team member, “Prices gained even as market participants were seen making the shift to spot market purchases from contract transactions. The price rise was also triggered by reports of producers reducing their production rates to adjust mismatched demand-supply fundamentals and a drop in material avails from overseas suppliers.”

The source added, “A steep gain in feedstock ethylene spot values also resulted in prices trending higher.”

In the spot markets, HDPE film grade prices were assessed at the Euro 1015-1025/mt FD North West Europe levels, while HDPE BM grade prices were assessed at the Euro 1005-1015/mt FD North West Europe levels, both sharply up by (+50/mt) from the previous week. Meanwhile, HDPE injection grade prices were assessed at the Euro 985-995/mt FD North West Europe levels, a week on week spike of Euro (+60/mt).

In the contract markets, HDPE film grade prices were assessed at the Euro 1430-1435/mt FD NWE Germany and FD NWE Italy levels, both remaining constant week on week. HDPE film grade prices were assessed at the Euro 1430-1435/mt FD NWE France levels, left unchanged from last week. Meanwhile, HDPE film grade prices were assessed at the GBP 1220-1225/mt FD NWE UK levels, stable from the previous week.

In the contract markets, HDPE BM grade prices were assessed at the Euro 1405-1410/mt FD NWE Germany and FD NWE Italy levels, both steady from the previous week. HDPE BM grade prices were assessed at the Euro 1405-1410/mt FD NWE France levels, remaining flat week on week. Meanwhile, HDPE BM grade prices were assessed at the GBP 1200-1205/mt FD NWE UK levels, stable from last week.

In the contract markets, HDPE injection grade prices were assessed at the Euro 1360-1365/mt FD NWE Germany and FD NWE Italy levels, both unchanged week on week. HDPE injection grade prices were assessed at the Euro 1360-1365/mt FD NWE France levels, rolled over from the previous week. Meanwhile, HDPE injection grade prices were assessed at the GBP 1160-1165/mt FD NWE UK levels, steady from last week.

FCA Antwerp HDPE film prices were assessed at the Euro 990-1030/mt levels, a sharp gain of Euro (+60/mt) from the previous week. FCA Antwerp HDPE BM prices were assessed at the Euro 990-1020/mt levels, while FCA Antwerp HDPE injection prices were assessed at the Euro 960-990/mt levels, both week on week spiked by (+60/mt).

Ethylene spot prices on Thursday were assessed at the Euro 660-670/mt FD North West Europe levels, a week on week surge of Euro (+90/mt).

Feedstock ethylene contract price for August 2023 settled at the Euro 1120/MT FD North West Europe levels. This price represents a rollover from its July 2023 settlement levels.