Brazilian resin prices see significant rise since beginning of the year

Sao Paulo — Brazilian polyethylene and polypropylene CFR import prices have increased significantly since the beginning of the year and reached its highest numbers since 2018 for most PE products and 2019 for PP, S&P Global Platts data showed.

The largest difference since January is high-density polyethylene film, with a 48% appreciation in its prices, currently at $1,140/mt. Compared to the lowest it stood in 2020, during May, it increased 60.6%. It is the highest value since December 2018.

HDPE blowmolding also increased 35.4% since the beginning of the year and 55.1% since May, the lowest value for the year. It was assessed Sept. 30 at $1,070/mt, also the highest value since December 2018.

HDPE injection had a smaller appreciation at 30.8% since January, assessed at $1,020/mt currently, and increased 47.8% if compared to May's values, the lowest within the year. It is the highest value since January 2019.

Low-density polyethylene increased 29.3% since January, which was also the lowest value during 2020. LDPE was assessed Sept. 30 at $1,190/mt, the highest value since October 2018.

Linear low-density polyethylene prices increased 30.4% from January, assessed at $1,030/mt currently. Compared to the lowest it stood in 2020, during May, it increased 47.1%. It is the highest value since November 2018.

For polypropylene, homopolymer grade prices increased 5.8% compared to January's values, assessed at $1,090/mt currently, but appreciated 28.2% when compared to May, the lowest within the year. It is the highest value since October 2019.

Copolymer grade values increased 6.7% from January to the assessed value at Sept. 30 of $1,120/mt, but evaluated 24.4% higher from May, the lowest value of 2020. It is also the highest value since October 2019.

In terms of imports, from January to August, Brazil imported 190,207 mt of HDPE, up 5.1% year on year. Imports of LDPE increased 8.4% to 99,281 mt in the same period, and LLDPE imports reached 358,157 mt, up 11% year on year.

Imports of PP homo were 145,324 mt from January to August, down 10.6% year on year, while copolymer imports during the same period were 1.9% down at 77,154 mt.