Polyethylene US

The weekly US polyethylene (PE) report covers eight grades of high density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE).

Domestic price quotes in the report provide a reference for the US contract market.

Our methodology is to post net prices for small-volume buyers. US contract discussions occur monthly, but the weekly report gives buyers an update on market sentiment leading up to the assessment of prices.

Export price quotes address the remaining 20–30% of US product that goes offshore.

The report also tracks ethylene trends, including major plant outages, contract settlements and spot-trading activity. The information from the report originates from producers, traders and buyers of PE.

Customers enjoy reading the US PE report because it provides accurate pricing, as well as international context and varied viewpoints to judge the direction of the market.

ICIS pricing’s weekly Polyethylene US margin report covers integrated and stand-alone production of both low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) in the US. Two types of integrated model are provided, one based on ethane, the dominant cracker feedstock in the US, and the other on light naphtha. Both take full account of cracker co-product credits. The stand-alone models consider LDPE and HDPE production from purchased ethylene. Both contract and spot pricing models are included.

For more information on ICIS pricing’s weekly Polyethylene US margin report, read the full methodology.

With the ICIS Polyethylene US Margin report, you will be able to:

• Have a consistent weekly view of costs and prices affecting your business
• Analyse the directional trends of integrated and stand-alone polyethylene production cash margins
• Validate your market analysis
• Have a benchmark for your cost and margin based business
• Get clarity on the real impact of feedstock costs to the ‘contracted’ petrochemical markets
• Better understand the market dynamics and make informed business decisions

More on ICIS margin reports

Whether you are a buyer, a seller or a trader, ICIS weekly margin reports can help you understand how costs and prices hit product profitability. Our weekly reports provide prompt signals on the direction of variable margins for a range of commodities. Our weekly margin offering delivers reliable and timely indicators of the extent to which producers are covering their fixed costs. ICIS margin calculations are underpinned by Linde Engineering plant manufacturing and feedstock yield models.

For more information on ICIS margin models in general, view our video.

ICIS price assessments are based on information gathered from a wide cross-section of the market, comprising consumers, producers, traders and distributors from more than 250 reporters world-wide.  Confirmed deals, verified by both buyer and seller, provide the foundation of our price assessments.

Our in-depth market knowledge drives our specialist focus, as we recognise the importance of individual market dynamics and not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Over 25 years of reporting on key chemicals markets, including Polyethylene, has brought global recognition of our methodology as being unbiased, authoritative and rigorous in preserving our editorial integrity.  Our global network of reporters in Houston, London, Singapore, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Mumbai, Perth and Moscow ensures unrivalled coverage of established and emerging markets.