Polypropylene
Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most versatile of the bulk polymers. Its intrinsic properties of high stiffness, good tensile strength, good processability and inertness towards acid, alkalis and solvents has secured its position in a wide range of consumer and industrial products, manufactured by several high volume forming methods.
In addition, its low density and cost advantage over other thermoplastic polymers make it suitable for applications that are weight and cost conscious. These properties plus good heat resistance and ease of recycling has made PP the polymer of choice in the automotive industry where 50 percent of all plastics used in passenger cars is PP.
Key applications include packaging, fibres and automotive parts. Injection moulded PP has applications in packaging, automotive, electronic and electrical appliances, houseware, toys and luggage. PP fibres are used in carpets, clothing and non-woven, while its combined strength and resistance has led to the replacement of sisal and jute in ropes, twine and string. Film grade PP offers excellent optical clarity and low moisture vapour transmission with uses in the packaging of sweets, snack foods and cigarettes, capacitors and other electronic films, photo and graphic arts applications, and pressure sensitive tape backing and labels. IPP (Isotactic PP) film grades can be used for clothing packaging (China) and food packaging (Thailand). BOPP film is mainly used in food and cigarette packaging in Asia. The difference between IPP usage and BOPP usage is that IPP grades are more popular with smaller scale converters, while BOPP is used for larger converters.
Copolymer PP is used in car and truck bumper manufacturing and has medical applications as well. PP sheet is used in thermoformed food containers, which can be blow or injection moulded. Polypropylene can be extruded for use in pipe and conduit, wire and cable, while atactic polypropylene finds outlets in paper laminating, sealants and adhesives.
|
Density (at 20oC) |
0.88-0.91 |
|
Vicat Softening Point ( oC) |
154 |
|
Melting Temperature ( oC) |
170-172 |
|
Tensile Strength (Mpa) |
29.3-38.6 |
|
Tensile Elongation at rupture (%) |
20-600 |
|
Impact strength (notched Izod) |
21 |
ICIS news Data
ICIS pricing quotes Polypropylene in Europe, Asia-Pacific, the USA, Middle East/West Asia, Latin America and Africa.
Frequency:
Published weekly on Fridays, and the Africa report on Wednesdays.
Polypropylene (EUROPE)
The new FD EU quote represents gross delivered prices, later discounted, throughout Europe. It does not reflect net business in any part of Europe.
Weekly Price Assessments:
Co-Polymer Spot Prices (Net)
- FD NWE (EUR/MT & conversion to US
Homo-Polymer Raffia Spot Prices (Net)
- FD NWE (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- FOB NWE (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- EXW Russia Rb/MT (conversion to EUR/MT)
Homo-Polymer Injection Spot Prices (Net)
- FD NWE (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- CFR Turkey (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
Raffia Domestic Prices (gross)
- FD EU (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD UK (
- FD UK (EUR/MT & conversion to US
Injection Domestic Prices (gross)
- FD EU (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD UK (
- FD UK (EUR/MT & conversion to US
Co-Polymer (bloc) Domestic Prices (gross)
- FD EU (EUR/MT & conversion to US
- FD UK (
- FD UK (EUR/MT & conversion to US
Polypropylene Feedstock Prices (gross)
- PROPYLENE FD NWE Quarterly (EUR/MT)
Polypropylene (
Weekly Price Assessments:
BOPP Film Spot Prices
IPP Film Spot Prices
Injection Spot Prices
Flatyarn (Raffia) Spot Prices
Block Co-Polymer (General Purpose Grades) Spot Prices
Polypropylene Feedstock Prices
- PROPYLENE
Polypropylene (
Weekly Price Assessments:
Import Prices (spot) –
- BOPP
- IPP
- INJECTION (USD/MT)
- FLATYARN (RAFFIA) (USD/MT)
- BLOCK CO-POLYMER (GENERAL PURPOSE GRADES) (USD/MT)
Import Prices (spot) –
- BOPP
- IPP
- INJECTION (
- FLATYARN (RAFFIA) (
- BLOCK CO-POLYMER (GENERAL PURPOSE GRADES) (
Domestic Prices (spot)
- INJECTION EXWH (
- FLATYARN (RAFFIA) EXWH (
- BLOCK CO-POLYMER (0.3 ≤ MI ≤ 3) EXWH (
- BLOCK CO-POLYMER (20 ≤ MI ≤ 30) EXWH (
Regional Spot Prices
China produced Injection (spot)
- NORTH
- EAST
- SOUTH
Imported Injection (spot)
- EAST
China produced Flatyarn (Raffia) (spot)
- NORTH
- EAST
- SOUTH
Imported Flatyarn (Raffia) (spot)
- EAST
China produced Block Co-Polymer (0.3 ≤ MI ≤ 3) (spot)
- NORTH
- EAST
- SOUTH
- SOUTHWEST CHINA EXWH (CNY/MT)
China produced Block Co-Polymer (20 ≤ MI ≤ 30) (spot)
- EAST
Imported Block Co-Polymer (20 ≤ MI ≤ 30) (spot)
- EAST
Polypropylene (USA)
Weekly Price Assessments:
Homopolymer Domestic Prices
- BULK (INJ)
- BULK (RAFFIA)
- BULK
Co-Polymer Domestic Prices
- BULK
- GP
Export Prices, Bagged Material
- RAFFIA
- INJECTION
Polypropylene (MIDDLE EAST/SOUTH
Weekly Price Assessments:
IPP Film Spot Prices
BOPP Film Spot Prices
Injection Spot Prices
Flatyarn Spot Prices
Block Copolymer Spot Prices
* Cooperation Council for Arab States of the Gulf.
Polypropylene (LATIN AMERICA)
Weekly Price Assessments:
General Purpose (Raffia) Package Domestic Prices
- FOT BRAZIL (US
- FOT COLOMBIA (US
- FOT MEXICO (US
- FOT VENEZUELA (US
Injection Package Domestic Prices
- FOT BRAZIL (US
- FOT COLOMBIA (US
- FOT MEXICO (US
- FOT VENEZUELA (US
General Purpose (Raffia) International Prices
- DAF MEXICO (US
Injection Package International Prices
- DAF MEXICO (US
Polypropylene (
Weekly Price Assessments
Homopolymer (Raffia) Spot Prices
CFR NORTHERN AFRICA (USD/MT) with conversion into EUR/MT
CFR SOUTHERN AFRICA (USD/MT)
FD SOUTH AFRICA (ZAR/MT)
Block Copolymer (General Purpose Grades) Spot Prices
CFR NORTHERN AFRICA (USD/MT) with conversion into EUR/MT
CFR SOUTHERN AFRICA (USD/MT)
FD SOUTH AFRICA (ZAR/MT)
General Information:
Assessment window: Price assessments are based on information supplied by market participants through the week up to close of business on Fridays at 1800 hours in London, Singapore and Houston. In Africa, price assessments are based on information supplied by market participants through the week up to close of business on Wednesdays at 1700 hours in London.
Specification: ICIS pricing assesses IPP (Inflated PP), injection, yarn, block-copolymers and BOPP (Bi-axially Oriented PP) film grades, except for China where producers’ list prices for BOPP are mentioned in the text. Prices for random copolymers are discussed in the text. Homopolymer injection and flatyarn grade covers material with a melt flow rate (MI) of 2-30. In the China report, block-copolymer prices reflect local product of MI 10 or less, and imported material of MI 1-30. Block-copolymer in other markets covers a melt flow index of between 1-30.
Timing: Cargoes typically loading or delivered two-four weeks forward from the date of publication. In the
Terms: Typically 30-60 days after bill of lading date. Assessments for China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and India are based on a LC at sight basis only, although deals with differing credit terms will be taken into consideration. Spot delivered prices in Europe and USA are typically based on 30-60 days credit. In the China report, first-tier distributors’ price quotes are for payment at sight. In the Africa report, terms are typically 30-90 days after bill of lading date
Standard cargo size:
Assessment basis: The ICIS pricing polypropylene price assessments are based on information gathered from the market throughout the week. The assessment of prices takes into consideration the following: transactions and deals, bids and offers, buy and sell indications and notional discussions throughout the week. In the event of the lack of confirmed trades, published price ranges represent the highest bids received and the lowest sell indications of the week. All regional reports offer market commentary that includes details of traced transactions, news on the supply/demand balance, export/import information, contract price negotiations and general sentiment for price direction. Where applicable, there is product information, comments on up and downstream market developments and general market intelligence.
European and US domestic price assessments are quoted on a gross basis and do not take account of any discounts or rebates which may be applied on a case by case basis negotiable between individual suppliers and customers. Spot prices are net of discounts.
Contract prices in the US are usually established on a delivered (DEL) basis, but a premium can be added for long distances. Contracts can be freely negotiated, or index or monomer based, or any combination of these. Freely negotiated contracts are usually negotiated monthly, but terms are flexible. During a month, prices may change once, or more than once, or not at all.
The European report includes a formal Russian rouble denominated homopolymer raffia spot price assessment. These figures are quoted on an ex-works basis and include 18% VAT. The Euro quote is a conversion based on the day’s exchange rate noted at the end of the report.
The Asia report quotes spot prices for cargoes 100 tonnes and above for China, and Southeast Asia. Middle East cargo sizes are between 100-500 tonnes. Chinese prices usually set the trend in Asia, but are not necessarily the highest in the region. S.E.Asian numbers tend to be USD 10/tonne higher, and Hong Kong/Taiwan prices tend to be USD 10/tonne lower. Domestic prices in China and Southeast Asia are mentioned in the text.
In the China report, ex-warehouse (EXWH) prices are reflective of first-tier distributors’ businesses and include VAT. A first-tier distributor is a company that buys directly from a local producer or a foreign supplier.
The All China price quotes are reflective of EXWH prices of imported and local materials in north, south and east China. North China prices cover Tianjin, Beijing, Henan, Hebei and Shandong. East China prices cover Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu. South China prices cover Guangdong and Fujian. Northeast prices cover Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning. Northwest prices cover Xinjiang, Gansu and Shaanxi. Southwest prices cover Chongqing and Sichuan. The
|
|
2008 China import tariff (%) |
|
BOPP |
6.5 |
|
IPP film |
6.5 |
|
Injection |
6.5 |
|
Flatyarn |
6.5 |
|
Block Co-polymer |
6.5 |
The Middle East/South Asia report includes pricing information in the GCC, East Med, India and Pakistan. The GCC region includes Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E, while the East Med region comprises Israel, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt. Pricing information focuses primarily on imported material into each of these regions. Details of domestic trading activity and prices will also be included in the commentary of the report.
In Latin America, low volumes of polypropylene are traded within the region, which also imports small volumes from the US and from Asia when arbitrage conditions allow.
The Latin American Polypropylene report includes prices for general purpose (raffia) and injection grade homopolymers. Assessments are provided for key Latin American countries. The prices reported include domestic prices and international prices (import/export activity, whatever is applicable to a given country). Domestic prices in Brazil include a tax called PIS/COFINS that varies depending on destination. Although this tax is recoverable, buyers and sellers quote prices that include this tax (on average around 11 percent) on a regular basis.
In the US, domestic/contract prices are assessed for two major categories or product types: homopolymer and copolymer. Within these categories, prices are further designated by volume, more specifically bulk or package, and specific grade—injection, raffia, or film (GP or BOPP). In the export/spot market, prices are assessed on a weekly basis for bagged material. The two grades offered are raffia and injection.
The Africa report carries information on spot CFR prices, usually for lots of 100-500 tonnes. Import and domestic prices for western and eastern Africa are mentioned in the text. Western African covers main ports in Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria. Eastern Africa covers main ports in Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania. Northern Africa covers main ports in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Sudan. Southern Africa covers main ports in Namibia, Mozambique and South Africa. The northern Africa quote does not include import tariffs.
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