PS

INEOS AND ARBURG FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE STYRENICS

INEOS and Arburg focus on sustainable styrenics. INEOS Styrolution has announced its partnership with Arburg, a leading global manufacturer of plastic processing machines.

The collaboration will merge Arburg’s innovative injection moulding machines with INEOS Styrolution’s comprehensive sustainable styrenics polymer portfolio.

Demonstrations are scheduled for Arburg’s Anniversary Days 2023 (March 8-11 in Lossburg) and FAKUMA 2023 (October 17-21 in Friedrichshafen).

INEOS Styrolution’s ECO portfolio showcases a variety of sustainable styrenics materials. This includes Styrolution® PS ECO, a range of ABS, ASA, SAN, SMMA grades, and SBC ECO solutions.

The Terluran ECO line of ABS products features mechanically-recycled and bio-attributed alternatives to conventional ABS.

The mechanically-recycled grades contain up to 70% post-consumer recycled content. Meanwhile, the bio-attributed grades are ISCC-certified, with some offering a complete bio-attributed solution.

Arburg successfully tested INEOS Styrolution’s sustainable ECO grades. These machines emphasize energy-saving, resource-efficient, and user-friendly features.

Both companies share a strong commitment to sustainability, as highlighted by Christian Homp, Team Manager Applications at Arburg. He believes the collaboration will help customers improve their CO2 footprint.

Christian Dietlein, Technical Account Manager at INEOS Styrolution, is excited to work with a company that shares similar objectives related to sustainability.

STYROLUTION DECREASES PRICES

INEOS Styrolution decreases prices. The company has announced decreases in the Gross Market Price for Polystyrene (GPPS) for March 2023.

The decrease follows a triple-digit decrease in the feedstock styrene monomer (SM) contract in March. The surcharge for HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) is +110€/mt.

INEOS Styrolution, producer of styrenics products, supplies a wider range of industries, including automotive, construction, electronics, healthcare, packaging, and household goods.

GPPS is a cost-effective plastic used in food packaging and household goods. HIPS is a durable plastic used in the automotive and electronics industries.

TRINSEO HIKES PRICES IN MARCH

Trinseo hikes prices in March. The increases will apply polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) grades in Europe.

The company notes the decision represents the increase in raw material costs for styrene production.

Contract and spot prices for these materials will increase. A +70 Euro per metric ton for PS and +30 Euro per metric ton for ABS and SAN grades.

Trinseo is known for its premier expertise and innovative solutions. The company supplies a wide range of industries. Some of these include building and construction, consumer goods, medical, and mobility.

PS MARKET UNDER PRESSURE

The European polystyrene (PS) market faced persistent downward pressure on prices in February, according to GC Intelligence market analysis.

This reflects the current state of the European economy with widespread low demand, even in the packaging industry.

The competition from imports is high, as Europe remains uncompetitive due to high energy prices for both polymers and finished goods.

Despite these challenges, a rebound in prices is possible. Should China’s economy recover, it could lead to a surge in global demand for gas and crude oil. This in turn will start to push costs up once again.

What is more, a recovery in China will mean a reduciton in competition for downstream products.

Meanwhile, the macroeconomic outlook has also improved due to lower gas prices and lower inflation. However, the possibility of a recession in Europe adds to the uncertain outlook.

To address oversupply amid low demand in recent months, producers heavily reduced operating rates.

Should demand gradually increases, suppliers will increase operating rates, which will prevent the market from becoming tight. However, a strong and faster demand rebound could lead to a tight market.

Overall, prices should remain rangebound due to ongoing market weakness and the expectation that gas prices will not return to their long-term trends.

And due to the current market weakness, prices should experience a milder recovery during the spring.

EU POLYSTYRENE TRADE SEES EXPORTS DROP, IMPORTS RISE

EU polystyrene trade sees a rise in exports and a decrease in imports, according to the latest data from Eurostat.

In December 2022, the data reported a decrease in polystyrene (PS) exports and an increase in imports for the European Union (EU).

PS exports from the EU27 dropped by 48.5% compared to the same period in the previous year. The data registered 11,509 metric tons (MT) exported.

Compared to the same period in 2020, the drop in PS exports was even more significant. Exports in December 2019 were 28,898 MT.

In contrast, PS imports into the EU27 saw a 22.2% increase, with 7,052 MT imported in December 2022.

This figure marks a substantial increase compared to the previous year’s imports, which totaled 5,770 MT.

In December 2020, PS imports to the EU27 were even lower, with just 4,341 MT imported.

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