Plastribution’s Polymer Price Know-How: November 2025
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Plastribution’s November Polymer Price Know-How highlights how Polymer markets enter the month under mixed conditions, with a modest benzene price bounce offset by subdued sentiment and seasonal demand pressures. While European benzene supply constraints lifted contract prices, falling crude oil and naphtha values pushed most feedstocks lower, leaving polymer producers struggling to maintain margins. In the UK, a weaker pound and concerns over the upcoming Budget add further upward pressure on import costs, as buyers weigh whether current levels mark the bottom of the cycle ahead of Q1 2026.
Despite a benzene price bounce, market sentiment remains subdued with seasonal demand adding pressure to prices.
Although some constraints in European Benzene supply resulted in a price increases, falling crude oil and Naphtha pricing squeezed all other feedstock prices lower. Whilst producers were reluctant to pass the fall in monomer costs through, polymer pricing prices came under further pressure as the lull in demand through the December holiday season necessitates the need to keep inventory moving through the supply chain.
Much attention is already being placed on the prospects for Q1 2026, with many converters trying secure inventory in the expectation that prices are unlikely to fall further and with the possibility that prices may increase.
In the case of the UK the upcoming Budget is already putting the value of the GBP under pressure, due to fears that increased taxation will dampen economic prospects, and given that polymer prices are either € or $ derived this has a very real prospects of pushing UK prices up.
Monomer Price Movement
Exchange Rates
€ – 1.16
$ – 1.35
€/$ – 1.17
Standard Polymers
After many months of price falls, we do appear to be hitting the bottom of the current pricing cycle. Both C2 and C3 monomers dropped €25 / MT on the back of lower oil pricing, and this has broadly been reflected in polymer price offers for early November. It can, however, feel like rollover compared to the pricing we saw towards the end of October as prices fell through the month due to increased trader activity trying to move stocks.
The argument for this being the bottom is largely driven by a resurgence in buying activity, whilst not necessarily a shift in demand, there is an appetite from buyers to restock. Many buyers are trying to secure volumes for early 2026 at current pricing, a strong indication that they feel the bottom has been reached.
Whilst producers are pleased to see the bottom of the pricing, they are unlikely to be able to achieve much in the way of price recovery as demand is still some way behind supply. There will be strong attempts to restore margin and to widen the delta from monomer to polymer back to profitable levels, but this will be challenging whilst we continue to see imports from cheaper production countries.
Exchange rates will also be a factor in November for us in the UK. The £ is weaker against both the € and US$ so imports are now more expensive.
Performance Polymers
The market slump continues, with very low demand, high stocks, and cheap imports, particularly from Asia. As a result of these factors, many European producers are struggling to balance supply/demand and are therefore cutting production even further. With the ongoing weak demand and the global oversupply situation, most polymer costs reduced again. No improvement is expected before the year end.
The November benzene contract settled at €593/t, up €37/t from October. The increase was mainly 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. Industry continues to be under pressure with Sustainability lower on the agenda for many brands and demand for good quality recycled slipping with it. There is some hope that legislation will help protect the industry as we continue to see more closures throughout Europe.
Recycled LDPE / LLDPE
Recycled LDPE / LLDPE is mostly a rollover though some small discounts were reported to stimulate sales.
Recycled PP
Recycled PP is rolling over and, in some cases, slightly increasing in £ terms as the exchange rate affects imported grades. Some slight improvements in demand have been seen and the outlook for 2026 appears slightly better.
Recycled HDPE
Recycled HDPE has rolled over in November, some signs of improvement in blow moulding grades with better demand in non-food packaging for things like screen wash.
Price Know-How: November 2025 Full Report
Visit the Price Know-How website to read the November 2025 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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