Current situation:
- Producer prices for HDPE pipe were down 1.2% M/M (up 1.0% last month) and were down 2.3% Y/Y (up .4% Y/Y last month). Plastic pipe fittings and unions were down 1.1% M/M (up 2.4% last month) and up 6.3% Y/Y (up 8.0% last month).
- The HDPE industry is still expected to grow at a 3.8% CAGR from 2019-2024 according to Lucintel.
Key factors that could affect supply or price:
- All resin producers announced a $.03/lb. price increase effective Oct. 1. It does appear that in some parts of the country prices are firming up, but in others pipe producers are still cutting prices as many have an abundance of inventory. Historically starting in November the market tends to slow, so even though the resin increase may stick to the pipe producers, the direction of actual pipe prices in the market is up for speculation.
