Current situation:
- Producer prices for HDPE pipe were up 3.7% M/M (up 4.1% last month) and were up 48.5% Y/Y (up 40.5% Y/Y last month). Plastic pipe fittings and unions were up 6.3% M/M (up 5.1% last month) and were up 31.8% Y/Y (up 23.3% last month).
Key factors that could affect supply or price:
- Plastics and resin supplies remain tight. Supply chain backlogs are still chronic across the country and many imports of resins and products are delayed by COVID impacts in source countries (primarily China).
- A significant number of buyers have stated that they have at least some out-of-stock items in their portfolios, a surprising 1 in 10 could be completely out of stock within a short period of time if import volumes are not able to rebound more quickly.
