Plastribution’s Polymer Price Know-How: October 2026

George Nowill
21 October 2026, 10:35 BST
4 minutes read

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In October’s Polymer Price Know-How, experts from Plastribution discuss how high crude oil and energy costs are finally feeding through into current polymer prices. In many cases, producers will seek increases above the rise in feedstock costs to recover some margin. Although demand remains muted, the supply-demand balance has shifted in sellers’ favour compared with recent months, with tangible evidence of tightness in some material types and grades. Feedstock prices remain elevated relative to the start of the year, although the surge associated with the US-Iran conflict in April and May has subsided against a backdrop of persistently high crude oil prices.

Upstream cost inflation drives October polymer prices higher.

The outlook remains uncertain. Seasonal demand associated with Christmas appears to be arriving later than in previous years, which may affect the extent of year-end discounting. If supply chains become depleted, producers may have less need to push inventory through the market as converter demand wanes, particularly if polymer production continues at normal levels. Buyers should therefore remain alert to grade-specific availability and avoid assuming that softer year-end demand will automatically translate into lower prices.

Monomer Price Movement

Exchange Rates

€ / 1.17
$ / 1.35
€/$ / 1.16

Standard Polymers

In October, European polyolefin producers are seeking price increases following higher ethylene and propylene contract settlements, driven by the rise in naphtha and broader feedstock costs. The size of the increase varies by grade: tighter LDPE availability provides the strongest support, and most producers are targeting an increase above the monomer settlement of €80 / MT. Adequate supply and continued subdued demand are likely to limit just a monomer pass-through on LLDPE, HDPE and PP.

Geopolitical risk and feedstock volatility remain important; oil pricing has been consistently $100+ per barrel this month. Imported material remains sensitive to shipping costs, exchange rates and trading offers reflect this.

The short-term outlook is firm but mixed. Producers are targeting increases to recover higher raw-material costs, but converters remain cautious and demand is not strong enough across most grades to support increases beyond monomer.

Ian Chisnall
Product Manager – Polyolefins

Polyolefins Feedstocks

Performance Polymers

The market is generally still eerily quiet with unusually low levels of activity. Rollover is expected on most material types for October as supply and ample stocks will cover the subdued demand.

The Benzene contract price for October settled at €1195/t, up by €261/t from September, mainly due to the volatility in the oil price. Whether this filters through to relevant polymer prices remains to be seen, but the suspicion is probably not because of the poor demand and high stocks.

Pete Tillin
Product Manager – Performance Polymers

Performance Polymer Feedstocks

Sustainable Polymers

Recycled polyolefin prices have been broadly stable in October to date, with only limited firming for higher-quality natural and translucent grades. Rising virgin polymer costs have improved the backdrop for recyclates, but weak underlying demand, competitive imports and cautious converter purchasing continue to restrict the pass-through of increases. The broader European recycling sector therefore remains under significant margin and operating-cost pressure.

Ian Chisnall
Product Manager – Sustainable

Price Know-How: October 2026 Full Report

Visit the Price Know-How website to read the October 2026 update, which details each market segment and material group produced by Plastribution’s expert product managers.

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Price Know-How, a decade-long trusted resource in the industry, provides essential updates on polymer pricing and market dynamics. This report is crafted by Plastribution, a leading polymer distributor, in collaboration with Plastics Information Europe.

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