Recently, the plastic raw material market has seen a general price increase, with prices of the four major varieties—PE, PP, PA6, and POM—rising simultaneously, generally between 15% and 32%, putting some cost pressure on downstream manufacturers. This round of price increases is not driven by a single factor, but rather is the result of a combination of cost transmission, supply contraction, and demand recovery.

Among them, PE and PP are most directly affected by the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz led to a sharp reduction in imports, coupled with soaring international crude oil prices driving up costs. This, combined with domestic plant maintenance and downstream restocking, resulted in a significant price increase, with PP fiber grades showing particularly pronounced gains. PA6 prices were driven by rising prices of its core raw material, caprolactam, coupled with low industry operating rates and tight supply supporting higher prices. The increase in POM prices stemmed from rising costs of upstream methanol and formaldehyde, as well as domestic manufacturers limiting supply, leading to tight spot demand and higher quotes.

Currently, the market presents a pattern of “strong cost support, tight supply, and pent-up demand,” and prices are expected to continue to fluctuate at high levels in the short term. Downstream enterprises are mostly adopting a small-order purchasing model based on immediate needs, and are cautiously responding to the pressure of rising prices. The future market trend will mainly depend on the situation in the Middle East, crude oil fluctuations, and the resumption of production facilities.