Current situation:
- Producer prices for HDPE pipe were up 8.1% M/M (up 3.7% last month) and were up 58.1% Y/Y (up 48.5% Y/Y last month). Plastic pipe fittings and unions were up 5% M/M (up 6.3% last month) and were up 38.1% Y/Y (up 31.8% last month).
Key factors that could affect supply or price:
- Plastics and resin production are expected to be 3.6% lower year-over-year in the final quarter of 2021. Overall production for the year is expected to be 2.9% lower for 2021. Looking into next year, some estimates suggest that production and output of plastics and resins could rise by 9.2% in 2022 as global supply chains recover.
Resin prices are expected to be nearly 20% higher for the full year vs. 2020. Supplies are expected to remain tight through the end of the year, especially as further supply disruptions start to sweep Southeast Asia before recovering in the 1H of 2022.
