Polystyrene resin prices fell in June as feedstock prices dipped but the declines were hampered a bit by tight supply caused by several plant outages in May and June.

Both ethylene and benzene contract prices were down in June. The volume-weighted-average for Polystyrene Crystal resin grades dropped 2.2 cents-per-pound (CPP), while the volume-weighted -average for HIPS resin grades fell 2.1 cpp in June.

More than three-quarters of the Polystyrene resin buyers reporting their prices to the PMM (Plastic Market Monthly) reported lower prices in June.  

PMM data providers are projecting a 2.8 cpp decline in the volume-weighted-average price for Crystal Polystyrene resin in July and a 2.0 cpp decrease in HIPS resin prices.

Townsend's PMM benchmarks monthly transactional resin prices for PS, PVC, PP Copolymer, PP Homopolymer, PET, LLDPE, LDPE, HDPE Molding and HDPE Extrusion in the US and Canada.  To participate in the benchmark or obtain subscription information please contact Terry Ulery at +1-281-873-8733 Extension 133 or email to tulery@townsendsolutions.com.