The weekly Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) price report is published in Asia, Middle East, Europe, CIS, the US and Latin America. The reports cover, if applicable to the region, different grades of PET such as bottle, film and fibre, domestic prices, spot prices, production news, feedstock quotes, exchange rates and price history.
The unbiased and informative reports are full of news and analysis, and are a vital tool for those involved in the industry to use to make better informed decisions.
Request a free sample price report
Updated to Q4 2019
Asia
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) supply dropped further in Q4 2019 as there was a higher concentration of PET plant maintenance and production cuts. Several Asian producers planned maintenance amid the seasonal demand lull. A couple of Chinese producers were running their plants at reduced rates due to poor margins and demand slowdown, while Chinese producers’ inventory climbed up slowly. Previously completed forward sales limited spot transactions and maintained a generally calm atmosphere for both buyers and sellers.
Demand was subdued due to the seasonal lull with the start of winter for countries in the northern hemisphere. Some demand support would usually come from countries in the southern hemisphere for their summer, but it was not strong during the quarter. Another reason for subdued spot demand was forward sales done previously, resulting in many buyers still having sufficient inventories from their pre-bought cargo. Pre-buying continued and discussions for H1 2020 cargoes were heard.
Europe
The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) value chain was in oversupply throughout the final quarter of the year. This stemmed from larger-than-expected stocks created by an influx of imports, poor weather in the peak summer season and macroeconomic negativity. There were also new capacities in Asia. The newest of three PET lines at Neo Group’s Klaipeda plant in Lithuania was still on force majeure on PET, due to problems transporting feedstock.
Low prices heralded an active pre-buying market for PET in the fourth quarter. This included hedging, fixing prices for 2020 and regular forward buying activity. However, demand for freely negotiated and spot was subdued because material was so plentiful, particularly as the year drew to a close.
Latin America
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) supply in Latin America during the fourth quarter of 2019 was assessed ample on stable regional production and abundant offers from offshore sellers, particularly in Central and South America. Declining buying interest in the US due to the global slowdown and seasonality, drove Mexican and Asian producers to offer more material in Central and South America.
PET demand in Latin America in the fourth quarter of 2019 decreased despite warmer weather conditions in South America. The global slowdown and regional political and economic issues in several countries slowed business considerably. Sustained price drops of PET resin were not able to improve demand levels. Domestic demand in Mexico was also slow as well as from the international front, mainly due to the slowdown in the US.
US
US polyethylene terephthalate (PET) supply during the fourth quarter of 2019 was gauged as abundant due to the slowdown noted in the country as a result of the prolonged US-China trade war. Plenty of offers from offshore sellers further contributed to abundant supply and declining prices. It is not clear whether reduced operating rates will help balance the market.
US PET demand in the fourth quarter of 2019 was very weak due to the slowdown noted in the country as a result of the prolonged US-China trade war. Seasonality also contributed to lower demand levels as the weather turned cold. Declining resin prices and abundant global supply drove several buyers to postpone purchases in hopes of even weaker prices in early 2020.
We offer the following regional Polyethylene terephthalate analysis and news coverage to keep you informed of factors and developments affecting prices in the Polyethylene terephthalate marketplace.
More information about the price reports we publish on Polyethylene terephthalate
Independent price assessments and market coverage by region
You might also be interested in the information we publish on these related products
Breaking news of latest developments affecting the markets.
Insight and analysis of factors driving prices.
Regional price assessments, published daily or weekly, enabling you to keep track of trading prices, understand price drivers/fluctuations and set a benchmark for contract price settl 
ements. ICIS offers reports on over 180 commodities across the global petrochemical, energy and fertilizer markets. Information covered in our price reports includes:
Information is accessed online, via the ICIS dashboard service and is configurable to suit your preferences.
Produced by the ICIS Consulting team, these reports give a robust rolling 12-month price forecast, trade balances and in-depth analysis into where markets are heading – providing a valuable tool to support your short- to medium-term plans.
ICIS pricing intelligence is delivered to you online via the ICIS dashboard. Here you can view your reports and also access other useful services including related news, analysis, historical data and market alerts.
ICIS dashboard also makes it easy for you to create pricing charts, download price history and export data to create tailored analytical models.
ICIS weekly margin reports deliver the detail you need to understand how production costs and prices are affecting margins, enabling you to judge the likely impact on your business and optimise your upstream and downstream business decisions.
Find out more about ICIS margin reports
The Supply and Demand Window on the ICIS Dashboard provides a snapshot view of historical and forecast information for supply and demand, production capacity and trade flows – a key tool to help safeguard future investments within the chemicals market.
24-hour global coverage of breaking news in the petrochemical industry,
including updates on production, shutdowns and key transacted deals, keeping you informed of market developments as they happen. The ICIS news service allows you to customise the market alerts delivered to your email inbox, providing the business-critical information you need straightaway.
An expert view of supply and demand comprising four fully-reconciled databases, giving you access to extensive data for more than 100 markets. Information is included on global and regional trade flows, production, capacity and sources of demand in the short-, medium- and long-term. Data can be downloaded, customised and queried to support your planning requirements and your strategic decisions.
ICIS provides specialist training courses across the global petrochemicals, base oils and fertilizers industries. Our training team of industry experts can help you increase your knowledge of the industry and gain the insight and know-how needed to operate and trade effectively.
Find out more about ICIS training courses
ICIS produces a series of highly informative and timely conferences. Extensive research is carried out to ensure that each programme delivers the information you need and addresses current industry issues. We source speakers who have the appropriate expertise and experience to deliver excellent quality papers.
Find out more about ICIS conferences
Working closely with you to understand your strategies, challenges and ambitions, the ICIS consulting team deliver tailored advice and solutions to suit your unique requirements. With many years’ experience of guiding business leadership teams, we show you how market conditions can make a positive or negative impact on your long-term plans.
ICIS expert consultants can provide your organisation with the insight, intelligence and data needed to build and grow your business in China. We can help you to gain a clear view on the short and long-term supply and demand picture in the chemicals, energy, iron and steel, non-ferrous metals and paper and pulp markets in China.
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 terephthalate, 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.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) exists both as an amorphous (transparent) and a semi-crystalline (opaque and white) thermoplastic, and can be made into either a resin or a film.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has a crystalline structure and good chemical resistance to mineral oils, acids and solvents but not to bases. It has good electrical resistance, low moisture absorption; it resists combustion and is self-extinguishing.
PET exists both as an amorphous (transparent) and a semi-crystalline (opaque and white) thermoplastic, and can be made into either a resin or a film. The semi-crystalline PET has good strength, stiffness and hardness while the amorphous PET has better ductility.
PET can be made into a resin, fibre or film. The largest outlet is synthetic fibres, followed by bottle resin. PET film is used in electrical applications and packaging.
In the manufacture of PET resins, purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG) are reacted to make a basic ester which is polymerised in a melt phase, polycondensation finishing reactor.
Dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) is an alternative feedstock to PTA but the PTA route is preferred. The molten polymer is extruded, cut into chips and cooled. The chips pass to a solid state polycondensation unit to form the PET resin.
How can the PET industry accelerate the circular economy through collaboration? What does recent market volatility mean for the PET value chain? What are brand owners plans for sustainability, especially in light of approaching European Commission regulations? The 2020 PET Value Chain Conference has been designed with new features and additional networking opportunities to make sure you are well equipped to meet the goals of a sustainable future head-on.