Polyethylene terephthalate prices moved higher in the US this week as looming import tariffs kept buyers and sellers on edge. An industry source told a team member that discussions over who will absorb the new costs remain unsettled. The US imposed tariffs on imports of PET and recycled PET starting September 8, and market participants are still debating how the added expenses will be shared across the supply chain.
Delivered duty paid West Coast PET prices were assessed at USD 1,095–1,115 per metric ton, up USD 25 from last week. While feedstock dynamics offered little additional support, the tariff overhang lent firmness to the market.
Upstream, purified terephthalic acid prices held steady at USD 1,316.80–1,316.81 per metric ton FOB US Gulf. Monoethylene glycol spot values slipped to 20.50–21.00 cents per pound, down half a cent on the week.
Across the Pacific, sentiment was softer. PET prices in Far East Asia eased to USD 760–780 per metric ton FOB, a USD 10 decline from the previous week, underscoring the regional divergence as US trade policy takes center stage.
