Plastics Technology

APR 2017

Plastics Technology - Dedicated to improving Plastics Processing.

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In February, imported prime PET averaged 53.3¢/lb, up 0.85¢ from January (on a delivered duty-paid U.S. port basis). The price on March 3 was 53.5¢/lb. Prices rose primarily due to higher costs for feedstocks such as PTA, MEG, and PX, driven by higher hydrocarbon prices and strong demand for intermediates, according to Xavier Cronin, senior editor for this PCW report. The average cost of feed- stocks in February was 56.4¢/lb, 2-3¢/lb higher than January. Broken down, costs were: PX, 45.75¢/lb, PTA, 45.44¢/lb, and MEG, 49.76¢/lb. ABS PRICES BREAK OUT ABS prices, which generally held flat through the end of 2016, were expected to rise 10-17¢/lb by the end of first quarter, according to RTI's Kallman. Most of the activity took place in February, when suppliers sought increases of 5-12¢/lb, with yet a new round of 5-12¢/lb hikes announced in March. The March increases were likely to be softened to some degree by decreasing spot prices of feedstocks as well as lower ABS prices overseas, according to Kallman. He saw March as signaling the bottoming out of prices of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. PET Price Trends Bottle Grade FEB MARCH 1.7¢/lb 2¢/lb ✓ ✓ Typical cycle-time reduction of 20 to 40% ✓ ✓ Lower reject rates due to unform cooling ✓ ✓ Stronger parts via lower molded-in stress Are you ready for this game changing technology? If not then attend The Conformal Cooling Conference The Conformal Cooling Conference May 16-17, 2017 Crowne Plaza Northstar Minneapolis, MN For more information: www.ConformalCoolingConference.com info@conformalcoolingconference.com Presentations include: • Injection Molds - Bonding Technologies • Vacuum Brazing • Applications & Benefits of Diffusion Bonding • Metal Additive Manufacturing • New Equipment for Maintaining Conformal Cooling Channels • Combining Simulation & Thermovision PC PRICES RISE—TEMPORARILY PC prices, generally flat through the fourth quarter of 2016, were on the way up in this first quarter, with suppliers seeking increases of 9¢/lb in February and 16¢/lb in March, driven by feedstock price increases and tight supplies, according to RTI's Kallman. He ventured that by the end of first quarter, PC prices would be 5-10¢/lb higher. Kallman expected PC prices would see a reversal in the third quarter after a decline in second-quarter feedstock prices. NYLON 6, 66 PRICES UP Nylon 6 prices moved up 4-8¢/lb in January and 10-12¢/lb in February, driven by price increases in benzene and caprolactam, according to RTi's Kallman. He predicted that nylon 6 prices in the second quarter could start to fall once feedstock prices drop. First-quarter demand is characterized as pretty decent, driven by automotive and film markets. Kallman expected nylon 66 prices to be higher by the end of the first quarter, up 7¢/lb for compounds and 14¢/lb for virgin resins. Contributing factors were a globally tight market for all key feedstocks— benzene, propylene, butadiene—with higher prices resulting from planned and unplanned outages. Prices were expected to simmer down as feedstock prices decline. Demand is pretty strong, supported largely by automotive and increased demand for trucks and SUVs. @plastechmag 79 Plastics Technology YO U R B U S I N E S S

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