EU PC prices increase €50/mt from December to January, according to the latest assessments by GC Intelligence.
While polycarbonate (PC) buyers endured another round of price increases, clear signs emerged in January that the upward trend was abating.
Furthermore, some accounts also saw rollovers and decreased offers from the very high levels seen recently.
The ease in the upside can be linked to lower demand in December and January and also some slowdown in demand in China. China is a major importer of PC from Europe.
Nevertheless, while conditions improved, market constraints remained in place. For example, logistic disruptions have not gone away.
And there is still uwpard pressure from raw material costs and other cost components, such as electricity.
Moreover, seasonal demand could start to increase in February and March.
Therefore, price should continue to find support during the next few months.
Save any surprises, an ease in the upside followed by a downward correction is a plausible scenario, but not in the short-term.