Short term market conditions favor increasing PE prices per The Plastics Exchange.  Spot purchase prices have moved higher and contracted prices appear to be tested as well.  Producers are surely trying to 'get-while-the-gettin-is-good', but with new manufacturing capacity coming on-line,  it remains to be seen if this bullish sentiment is sustainable longer term.  See update here.

Looks like the typical spring increase season is upon us with resin producers looking to finally implement a much talked about PE resin increase.  A case can be made with higher monomer costs and tightening of supply, but weak export demand and well supplied processor inventories will make for tough sledding.  May be the last increase chance for a while given the expected new capacity in North America coming on-line in short order.  See TPE update here.

PE resin 'spot purchase' prices have apparently bottomed out and are ticking upward as both energy and feedstock costs have rebounded some.  Sluggish exports and ample inventories are still supporting current contracted prices, but time will tell if cost pressures allow for upward movement here as well.  See update here.

Plentiful PE resin inventories led to further price discounts this month.  All producers have now announced a $0.05/lb increase looking to turn the pricing tide.  This is the season for reactor maintenance which should temporarily reduce production pounds,  but a pickup in exports and/or improved domestic economic activity will likely be needed to move pricing up.  See update here.