How can Europe ensure a level playing field in the global plastics market? That question was at the heart of the latest Plastics Industry Meeting, held on 18 May 2026 at Targi Kielce on the eve of Plastpol, with more than 100 representatives of industry, public administration, industrial organisations, recyclers, processing companies and market experts in attendance.
In the first week of January 2026, market participants gradually returned to activity after the long Christmas and New Year break. The period was marked by waiting for the first price offers and by analysis of the current market situation.
Several converters have confirmed that they will maintain production on 29–30 December, as they have orders for finished products. As a result, trading companies will be able to continue selling and looking for customers this week, if they deem it appropriate.
In line with earlier ChemCourier forecasts, the December ethylene contract price in Europe remained unchanged. In the first weeks of the month, HDPE suppliers will attempt price increases in an effort to improve margins before year-end.
The propylene price fell by EUR 25/t in November. After a slow first week, the polypropylene market in Poland stabilised towards the end of the second week of the month.
In the final weeks of October, several incidents at Central European petrochemical producers could tighten polyethylene supply in the region.
By the end of the current month, polypropylene prices are expected to remain stable with a marginal decline. Although increased activity is observed among converters, particularly in PP homopolymer, this is not a broad-based trend.
Although the October ethylene price was unchanged, HDPE, LLDPE and LDPE prices are expected to fall next week. Weak market conditions and persistently low converter activity are the drivers.
The situation on the Polish polypropylene market remains stable but difficult. Low demand and the presence of cheap imported material are limiting the ability of producers and trading companies to maintain polypropylene prices.
The first days of September brought a development that many market players did not anticipate. Instead of stability or slight increases, the market continued to feel the effects of the summer slowdown.
The issues faced by European polypropylene producers may lead to a slight increase in prices in Poland in the last week of August - early September.
At the start of August 2025, as expected, producers rolled over last month’s prices, but by the middle of the first week they began offering small discounts.
