A balanced market and weaker feedstocks failed to support rollovers.
Polystyrene (PS) prices decreased €10/mt from August to September, according to GC Intelligence price assessments.
After the small decline in the main feedstock, styrene, sellers were aiming to keep prices unchanged or even increase them.
But there was enough length in the market in September to support a slight downward adjustment in line with costs.
PS prices decreased €10/mt in September also because costs could fall again in October. This gave some incentive for buyers to work down stocks.
However, while PS demand in Europe was better than other polymers during the pandemic, most said it is still weaker than last year.
The end of the summer and the increases in infections in September weakened the outlook and eased demand across the value chain.