Plastribution’s Polymer Price Know-How: June 2026

In the June Price Know‑How, Plastribution notes that firm crude oil values have yet to translate into meaningful polymer price support. Brent Crude has averaged just above $100 per barrel, but many monomers and polymers still slipped as sellers met only limited converter requirements after March’s stock‑building surge. With the holiday season approaching and global supply disruptions emerging from conflict‑related outages, short‑term direction remains unclear, though higher crude costs may begin to underpin pricing as the year progresses.

Whilst oil prices remain volatile on a day-to-day basis as a reaction to positive and negative rumours of a peace deal in the Middle East, average price levels remained just above $100 per barrel for Brent Crude. Prices GBP per tonne also increased from April to May as a result of weakness in the USD.

Against this backdrop, the prices of many monomers – and to a greater extent many polymers – lost ground as sellers chased the limited requirements of converters. Given the unprecedented rate at which polymer prices rose, as converters sought to secure inventory in March, then it came as no great surprise that the sentiment was one of too much, too fast and too soon.

So, what next? Will prices continue to soften, or will there be a bounce back? In all honesty, no one is too sure. Of course, the Western European holiday season is almost upon us and with that typically comes lower demand, but the global picture may emerge to dominate the situation as a number of petrochemical and refinery sites have been damaged as a result of the conflict, causing supply outages.

In Asia, capacity is idled due to a lack of Crude Oil and Naphtha feedstock and this could make polymer supply tighten as underlying consumer demand outstrips polymer supply. In any event crude oil prices are up by over £200 per tonne since the start of 2026, and if the current prices persist, this will tend to underpin polymer pricing in the mid-term.

Monomer Price Movement

Exchange Rates

€ – 1.15
$ – 1.35
€/$ – 1.17

Standard Polymers

June has seen significant price falls in both PE and PP as the market corrects following the significant increases experienced in March and April. The price increases were driven both by significant cost increases in monomers but also be concern about availability. As supply doesn’t appear to be affected as badly as initially feared, buyers are stepping back and prices are dropping. Monomers C2 and C3 dropped by €50 and €30 / MT, respectively. The ethylene drop reflects better availability as some crackers come back online.

Current spot indications for monomers and feedstock cost reductions suggest that prices will continue to fall into July. That is likely to lead to further reductions in July for polymers but likely to be at a slower pace than we are seeing now as buyers come back to the market having relied on stocks.

This spiky pricing movement is more likely to lead to a rebound after the summer lull, but it will depend on how demand looks and if alternative supply routes continue to be robust. There are concerns over freight rates from the Far East, but whilst demand remains poor, there is still just about enough material being made outside of the Middle East to keep things in balance so we may hit a plateau.

Styrene Monomer is up €15 / MT over May but that has not been passed through with most sellers accepting rollover after initial attempts at small increases were rebuffed.

Polyolefins Feedstock

Performance Polymers

The market for performance polymers is best summarised as having lower demand and slightly higher prices, as the conflict in the Middle East continues. Some materials/producers are less reliant on the impact from the conflict and others have found ways around the ongoing Strait of Hormuz closure. It will still be some time until the market situation returns to normal.

The Benzene contract price for June settled at €1,195/t, up by €131/t from May and at its highest level for more than two years. Availability is also still impacted and supply is very low, barely meeting the current low demand.

Sustainable Polymers

Recycled Polyolefins appear to have peaked as the momentum in the market has gone with virgin prices dropping significantly in June. Having seen virgin buyers look to recycled as an option in times of limited availability, they have gone back to virgin as availability improved. Recycled is back in recent markets, those buying for low cost and those buying for tax exemption and branding requirements.

Recycled LDPE / LLDPE

Recycled LDPE / LLDPE has peaked and, depending on the quality, has started to come down as demand fades. The highest quality grades are now at parity with virgin and are only being used if necessary. Lower quality grades still offer a saving, and prices have held up a little but will come under increasing pressure.

Recycled HDPE

Recycled HDPE has also peaked and is coming down as virgin prices have come down significantly in June, and availability is much improved. Natural grades are holding up relatively well as brands promote Sustainability in personal care packaging. Industrial grades are under a little bit of pressure as demand from key sectors is weak.

Recycled PP

Recycled PP has peaked, and deals are back on the table from suppliers as demand softens, with virgin much more available and down in price. Natural grades still command strong pricing and are back above virgin, but industrial grades are feeling the pressure of good availability and weak demand.

Price Know-How: June 2026 Full Report

Visit the Price Know-How website to read the June 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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