Recycled PET Price Trend and Forecast

Recycled PET Regional Price Overview

Get the latest insights on price movement and trend analysis of Recycled PET in different regions across the world (Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa).

Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (r-PET) Price Trend for Q2 of 2024

Asia

In Q2 2024, the market for recycled polyethylene terephthalate (r-PET) in China experienced a downward trend influenced by several factors. Following the holiday season, weak raw material costs resulted in manufacturers lowering their quotes. Upstream prices for PTA and ethylene glycol also declined, further dampening market momentum for r-PET. Meanwhile, demand from downstream industries remained sluggish, with slow sales and limited interest in restocking.
 

Recycled PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) Price Chart

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By May, the market faced cost pressures alongside high inventory levels. Although the domestic output of r-PET slightly decreased in June to reduce inventory buildup, the overall supply remained ample. Throughout the second quarter, the r-PET market exhibited a weak trajectory despite a brief recovery in late May as factory quotes temporarily increased.

Europe

In Q2 2024, the prices of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (r-PET) in Europe faced significant pressure due to a combination of factors. Volatile feedstock costs, especially rising prices for post-consumer PET bottle bales, created cost challenges for r-PET producers. At the same time, the influx of cheaper virgin PET and r-PET imports from outside the EU further constrained r-PET prices, limiting the ability of producers to maintain profitability.

This price pressure was exacerbated by inconsistent demand for recycled products, which, along with the oversupply of virgin plastics globally, particularly from China, kept r-PET prices from recovering significantly during the quarter. Despite the regulatory push toward increased r-PET usage, the market remained in a delicate balance, struggling with squeezed margins and operational difficulties.

North America

In Q2 2024, the North American Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (r-PET) market saw a marked rise in prices, largely driven by strong demand from the packaging and textiles sectors, alongside ongoing supply challenges caused by vessel shortages and increased shipping costs. Higher crude oil prices also contributed to the rising production costs, further influencing the market. In the U.S., the price shifts were particularly notable, reflecting the overall trend of upward pricing and market optimism.

Seasonal demand from the packaging industry, preparing for summer peak sales, added pressure to an already tight supply chain. The latter half of the quarter experienced heightened pricing due to intensified demand and logistical issues. Overall, the North American r-PET market, especially in the U.S., demonstrated a strong pricing trend fueled by consistent demand and limited supply availability.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, r-PET prices are expected to rise in the coming quarters, driven by recovering demand and improved conditions in the feedstock sector.
 

Recycled PET (rPET) Price Trend for the Q1 of 2024

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Asia

The Asian recycled PET market had quite an optimistic approach during the first quarter of 2024. In India, WPI (Wholesale Price Index) inflation rose during the said quarter, which raised the food and product prices marginally in the domestic market. In India, the organizational and habitual lack of collecting recyclable waste remains a big problem that limits the available feedstock for rPET production.

According to an estimate, the most populous country on the planet is able to recycle only 8% of its plastic waste. Most of the waste management depends on the informal sector and the laws for waste management are not that strictly imposed. This is creating a lot of problems with increasing environmental and soil pollution.

In the Chinese market, the demands exceeded supplies by great margins, when the recycling costs were also riding high. Overall, a positive market performance was witnessed in Q1’24.

Europe

The hikes in the domestic petroleum and energy sectors were replicated by the regional recycled polyethylene terephthalate industry as well during the said period. The downstream demands from the bottle and plastics industries grew substantially as the summer months approached. Further, because of incredible surges in the virgin bead prices, the recycled PET demands skyrocketed in the region. Supply chains were already distraught since the Russian war entered its third year. Both the supply side and the demand outlook created upward pressure on recycled PET prices. Conclusively, an uphill price trajectory was observed for rPET in the European markets.

North America

The American recycled PET market followed the price trajectories of its European and Asian counterparts during the first quarter of the year 2024. The heightened demands promoted market offtakes and with that, the market outlook turned more optimistic. Rising crude oil prices did concern the suppliers a little, but the number of incoming orders quickly balanced that out. Offshore trading, however, was a little complicated attributed to the geopolitical and geoeconomic uncertainties in the world. Other than the Russian war, another war broke out in the Middle East which further curtailed the supply chains even more.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, given the current supply and demand dynamics, Recycled PET prices are likely to continue growing in the coming months as well. The positive demand outlook is supportive of an inclined trajectory.
 

Recycled PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) Price Trend for October - December of 2023

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Asia

Recycled PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) or r-PET witnessed variations in the regional price trend in the Asian markets during the conclusive quarter of the year 2023. Given the market behavior of its feedstock PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) as the downstream, the prices of Recycled PET vacillated within a very confined range during Q4’23.

In the Chinese Recycled PET market, the prices first inclined marginally from October to November and then slid down in the last set of months. The monthly average prices went from around 1055 USD/MT (EX Work) in October’23 to around 1025 USD/MT in December’23. Given these short teetering patterns in the Recycled PET price graph, the Asian market sentiments were largely observed to be mixed during the discussed duration.

Europe

The European Recycled PET market replicated the Asian market behavior for the final quarter of the year 2023. Following a slumping trend in the feedstock PET prices, the Recycled PET prices too were found to be tilting towards the dipping end. A very average market performance was experienced in Q4’23.

North America

The American Recycled PET market performed a little better compared to other global markets; however, the prices here were found to be consolidated within limited terms. The market demands from the packaging and plastic industries drove these market trend. Overall, largely mixed market patterns were witnessed during the said period.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the Recycled PET price trend will take some time to stabilize as the downstream demands are highly uncertain. A similar average market performance is expected in the coming months.
 

Recycled PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) Price Trend for the July - September of 2023

Asia

The Asian Recycled PET or recycled polyethylene terephthalate market experienced a downward trend during the said time of Q3’23. The bearish demands from the downstream packaging and fibers industry kept the Recycled PET market gasping for upliftment. On the other hand, a regular supply of raw materials or used PET products was creating a supply glut for the processing units.

This disturbed the equation between supply and demand attributes of recycled PET and as a result, the recycled PET price graph kept on a downward trajectory throughout the said period. The monthly average spot prices stood at around 1065 USD/MT (EX Work) in July and fell to around 985 USD/MT by September. This shift in prices registered a quarterly decline of about 7% at the recycled PET price index. Overall, falling market trend were witnessed for recycled PET throughout the given period.

Europe

The European recycled PET industry was very influenced by the Asian market trend as the r-PET prices followed a similar downward trajectory here as well. One major reason was the European dependence on Asian exports, and second, the general market outlook in the consumer industries was cold towards recycled PET. Overall, dull market trend were observed.

North America

The American recycled PET market could behave no differently than its Asian and European counterparts. Since the global recycled PET market faltered regularly during the said period, the US market followed suit. Further, the economic uncertainties in the region also made the conditions a little hostile for the downstream manufacturing industries.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the Recycled PET market trend are not looking very promising for the coming months as well. The consistent dips in the demand curve suggest a longer period of depreciation in the recycled PET market.
 

Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Price Trend for the First Half of 2023

Asia

The recycled polyethylene terephthalate market inclined in the Asia Pacific region as it was supported by the high demand from the downstream industries and low availability of the product in the market. The surge in sales of the food and beverage industries and the growing interest of consumers in the sustainable option fueled the rise in the prices. As a result, the spot prices in China increased significantly from around 985 USD/MT in January to 1130 USD/MT in June’23, registering a rise of almost 12%.

Europe

In Europe, the price trend of recycled polyethylene terephthalate was stable throughout the first two quarters of 2023. The trend was majorly influenced by the stable demand-supply ratio and sustained demand from the FMCG sectors. The cost of production was also stagnant, and thus, the supply of recycled polyethylene terephthalate in the region maintained its required pace.

North America

The North American region witnessed a stagnant trend in the prices of recycled polyethylene terephthalate as the demand from the end-user sector and supply from the manufacturers equalized each other. In addition to this, there were no major changes in the market dynamics, and the performance of the packaging sector was also moderate in the first two quarters of 2023.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the price of Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is estimated to remain stable in the upcoming quarter, given the moderate yet consistent demands from end-user industries.

Procurement Resource provides latest prices of Recycled PET. Each price database is tied to a user-friendly graphing tool dating back to 2014, which provides a range of functionalities: configuration of price series over user defined time period; comparison of product movements across countries; customisation of price currencies and unit; extraction of price data as excel files to be used offline.