PP prices rise 2 cents in August

Posted on August 31st, 2018 by plasticycle

After pausing to catch their breath in July, North American PP prices have been on the move since Aug. 1, increasing an average of 2 cents per pound.

The increase was the result of higher prices for polymer-grade propylene monomer, according to sources contacted by Plastics News. Regional PP prices were flat in July after surging 8 cents per pound in June and moving up 7 cents in May.

PP prices in the region now are up a net of 13 cents per pound for the year. Total price volatility for the material — including all increase and decreases — has reached 42 cents per pound.

North American PP sales were down more than 1 percent through July, according to the American Chemistry Council. A 0.4 percent decline in domestic sales was worsened by a decline of almost 31 percent in export sales.

Some domestic PP end markets have fared well in spite of the overall decline. Sales of PP into oriented film were up more than 17 percent for the seven-month period. Sales of the materials into injection molded caps and closures grew more than 5 percent.