Plastribution’s Polymer Price Know-How: January 2026

In the first Plastribution Price Know How of 2026, this month’s report explores how the UK polymer market enters the year with mixed signals, as LDPE tightens, polyolefins largely roll over, and styrenics face potential upward pressure. With subdued demand, limited early‑year trading and shifting global dynamics, January’s outlook remains uncertain across key material groups.

In the case of PE, the market situation for LDPE is tighter and, in many producers are seeking price increases and elsewhere the view of prices being at the bottom is resulting in a price rollover for LLDPE and HDPE and all of the especially low offers present at the end of 2025 are now completely absent from the market.

The styrenic polymer market, could see a range of scenarios, and there is the possibility of ABS price increases as a significant European plant is currently out of action and anti-dumping duties have been applied to imports from South-East Asia for imports to the EU27 will further serve to tighten the market, in other cases polymer processors will seek to dodge any increases on the basis of ample availability.

Whilst demand is not strong, many processors secured much of their requirement for January in December and with limited 2026 transaction volumes so far, the market lacks any great clarity. January is always a long, drawn-out affair, and it will be interesting to see how sentiment develops.

Monomer Price Movement

Exchange Rates

€ – 1.14
$ – 1.34
€/$ – 1.17

Standard Polymers

2026 has started in a relatively calm manner with rollover generally seen across the board in Polyolefins. An outlier is LDPE, with the SABIC UK plant in FM, availability is limited and this is driving pricing up. SABIC are indicating that the plant will not be running again until the end of Q1 so can expect LDPE pricing to be firm for a few more months.

Although monomers dropped, most sellers are resisting attempts from buyers to pass this through as they have reached the bottom of where they are willing to go. Many producers are restricting output, one has confirmed a 50% cut in PP production as the economics of production are currently so poor that stopping production makes more sense.

Prices are expected to stay relatively stable in the coming months though geopolitics may have an effect.

Performance Polymers

The New Year appears to have started in a subdued fashion, much like the end of last year. Producers have restarted production plants slowly as the market is characterised by low demand, high stocks, and cheap imports, particularly from Asia. It does seem as though the rate of price decline is slowing, which may mean that the bottom of the market has been reached. Indeed, POM in particular is showing no further decline in cost.

For the third consecutive month, benzene contract prices rose, with January settling at €660/t, up €30/t from December. The increase was due to the rise in prices on the spot markets, in response to lower import volumes.

Sustainable Polymers

Recycled Polyolefins have mostly seen around a rollover, reflecting the pricing seen in the virgin market. Recycled LDPE/LLDPE has been boosted by the increases in pricing and reduced availability of virgin LDPE. As with the virgin market, producers are resisting any attempts at further discounts as they try and get back to profitability.

Recycled LDPE / LLDPE

Recycled LDPE / LLDPE has seen modest increases as virgin LDPE is a little tight and this has reopened opportunities for recycled in some applications.

Recycled HDPE

Recycled HDPE has rolled over in January, demand remains muted but as with virgin pricing, the market perception is that we are at the bottom.

Recycled PP

Recycled PP is rolling over in line with virgin prices. Demand appears stable and supply is being adjusted to match it.

Price Know-How: January 2026 Full Report

Visit the Price Know-How website to read the January 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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