Current situation:
Producer prices for HDPE pipe were up 4.6% M/M (up 8.1% last month) and were up 61.5% Y/Y (up 58.1% Y/Y last month). Plastic pipe fittings and unions were up 2.6% M/M (up 6.3% last month) and were up 41.2% Y/Y (up 31.8% last month).
Key factors that could affect supply or price:
Hurricane Ida did have some impact on production, but mostly on a temporary basis. Most firms lost 2-5 days of production but are getting back to “normal.”
Supplies generally remain tight and many facilities still have force majeure and sales control programs in place, but spot prices are reportedly starting to stabilize if not retreat in some instances. The big take-away in this month is that the sector is in flux, international demand is sporadic and supply chain disruptions continued. These factors continue to create an unpredictable and difficult market to stay ahead of.
