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 Singapore 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.

A weekly market commentary accompanies the price assessments and rationale, which highlights the most important trends that have affected the markets that week and provides insight into what the market expects over the coming weeks.

• Sentiment improves on firmer virgin PET values
• Room for increase in demand for recycled material

Asian recycled PET spot prices rose by $30/mt week on week amid sharp increases in virgin polymer prices and slight recovery in demand and sentiment in the Chinese market after the Lunar New Year.

Offers, in particular for more premium materials, were higher as prices of virgin materials surged.

Values for recycled materials for lower-end use applications, however, remained comparatively subdued though demand should have picked in the Chinese domestic market.

Trade activity for spot exports in dollars remained largely curtailed by the lack of container availability for shipping smaller parcel cargoes, which suppressed gains to FOB values in return.

Going forward, if the sharp price uptrend for virgin PET is extended, there would be further demand for recycled PET for low-end applications based on economic considerations.

Asian R-PET clear flakes was assessed unchanged day on day at $670/mt FOB Southeast Asia on Feb. 26 for clear flakes with PVC content of 50-100 ppm on the back of muted trade activity.

This rationale applies to symbol(s) <RPTSE00>.