Platts European Recycled LDPE Assessments

Platts assessments are based on market information, including, but not limited to, firm bids and offers, and trades reported to the editor up to the close of business (4.30 pm London time) on each day.

All the information used to inform the assessment is published transparently on Platts platforms as "heards". An assessment rationale is published explaining what the assessments are and how they have been reached.

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• Consumer packaging, garbage bag production support demand
• Sharp movement in Northwest European bales

The Northwest European recycled LDPE market recovered with Eur20-Eur40/mt increases among translucent, black and gray pellet grades while bale prices also squeezed up Eur55-60/mt in the week to Sept. 27.

The trend of improving demand and prices have continued for a few weeks already, a major recycler in the region said, noting that “I’ve the feeling that the consumer packaging market stays relatively strong as well as traditional markets like garbage bags.”

There was improving demand for the translucent grade, in particular for grades with a melt flow index of 0.3-0.6, another distributor said. These grades were heard seeing increased demand as prime LDPE of the same quality was priced higher amid tight availability.

However, some participants were uncertain whether they could achieve a price increase in October. A recycler said its offers sent out to customers were still pending wider acceptance.

LDPE bales also saw a sharp increase during the week. Bales were heard sold at higher prices in Germany and Belgium, whereas prices in Italy and Poland were heard unmoved at lower levels.

Platts assessed LDPE Grade B bales at Eur360/mt DDP NWE, up Eur60/mt on the week, and Grade A bales were assessed at Eur380/mt DDP NWE, up Eur55/mt on the week.

Platts is part of S&P Global Commodity Insights.

Platts assessed recycled low-density polyethylene translucent pellets at Eur950/mt DDP Northwest Europe Sept. 27, up Eur30/mt on the day and up Eur40/mt on the week, weighing a recycler's indication heard at Eur950/mt against a second recycler indication of prices above the same level. The assessment also considered a range of indications heard at between Eur1,000-Eur1,200/mt and market feedback of increased demand moving past an offer heard at Eur930/mt.

R-LDPE black pellets were assessed at Eur610/mt DDP NWE, up Eur20/mt on the day and on the week, moving to the lower end of a recycler's indication heard at Eur600-Eur650/mt and partially tracking a trader indication of deal levels for off grade materials heard at Eur650/mt, pending further corroboration of higher levels.

R-LDPE grey pellets were assessed at Eur690/mt DDP NWE, up Eur20/mt on the day and on the week, moving to the bottom range of a recycler's indication heard at Eur680-Eur730/mt and tracking the weekly rise in black pellet pricing.

Post-use LDPE Grade B bales were assessed at Eur360/mt DDP NWE, up Eur45/mt on the day and Eur60/mt on the week, in line with the most competitive recycler's indication heard at Eur360/mt, and moving toward two recyclers' indications heard at Eur380-Eur400/mt and Eur380-Eur450/mt respectively, pending further corroboration of higher levels.

Post-use Grade A bales were assessed at Eur380/mt DDP NWE, up Eur40/mt on the day and Eur55/mt on the week, in line with a recycler's indication heard at Eur380/mt and moving toward a second recycler's indication heard at Eur400/mt, pending further corroboration at higher levels.

Platts is part of S&P Global Commodity Insights.