Polypropylene prices in Europe softened again this week, weighed down by weak demand and abundant supply. Market players had hoped for a September restocking bounce, but the usual seasonal uptick never arrived. “The typical September restocking did not occur this year, leading to an oversupply,” one trader told a team member. Producers struggled to move volumes at higher levels, especially in homopolymer injection grade, where prices eased as expected while premiums held steady.
Upstream fundamentals offered little support. Propylene supply stayed strong with no meaningful shifts, reinforcing bearish sentiment and limiting any chance of a short-term price rebound. Spot prices for PP injection moulding grade were assessed at €915–925/mt FD Northwest Europe, down €10/mt week on week. PP block copolymer grade slipped marginally to €1,015–1,025/mt, a €5/mt drop.
Contract markets followed suit. PP injection moulding grade settled at €1,350–1,355/mt FD NWE Germany and France and €1,340–1,345/mt FD NWE Italy, each down €10/mt. UK levels eased to £1,175–1,180/mt, off £5/mt. Block copolymer grades held steady at €1,450–1,455/mt in Germany and France and €1,440–1,445/mt in Italy, while the UK edged up £10/mt to £1,265–1,270/mt.
FCA Antwerp numbers mirrored the softness: homopolymer at €900–940/mt, off €10/mt, and copolymer at €995–1,025/mt, down €5/mt. Upstream, propylene spot prices ticked up slightly to €775–785/mt FD Northwest Europe, while the September propylene contract settled unchanged at €1,005/mt.
Market sentiment remains cautious as October approaches. A few participants noted a slight lift in activity, but most expect only minimal cost relief from the upcoming propylene contract. With downstream industries still fragile and imports adding pressure, a meaningful rebound seems unlikely. Buyers continue to wait for clearer signals before committing to fresh volumes, leaving European PP producers facing another month of uncertainty.
