Polypropylene (PP) spot prices in Europe recorded a modest uptick this week, even as contract prices remained unchanged. Market activity, however, slowed considerably as the summer holiday season kept many converters and traders away, resulting in limited buying interest.
An industry source told a Polymerduniya team member that, despite the lull, spot prices found some support from expectations of pre-buying ahead of September. Market participants anticipate restocking to begin in the coming weeks, though overall demand remains notably weak. The extent to which current offers will translate into firm orders remains uncertain, with many buyers still hesitant. Imports, particularly from the Middle East, were reported arriving in Southern Europe, while prospects for Northern Europe are less clear, as logistics and lead times continue to pose challenges. Local supply and shipping schedules are expected to play a decisive role in shaping near-term price dynamics.
Spot prices reflected the slight firmness, with PP injection moulding grades assessed at Euro 945–955/mt FD Northwest Europe and PP block copolymer grades at Euro 1045–1055/mt FD Northwest Europe, both up by Euro 10/mt from the previous week. At Antwerp, FCA prices for PP homopolymer and copolymer rose by Euro 10/mt to Euro 930–970/mt and Euro 1030–1060/mt respectively.
In contrast, contract prices remained stable across most regions. PP injection moulding grades were steady at Euro 1380–1385/mt FD NWE Germany and France, Euro 1370–1375/mt FD NWE Italy, and GBP 1190–1195/mt FD NWE UK. PP block copolymer grades held flat at Euro 1450–1455/mt FD NWE Germany and France, Euro 1440–1445/mt FD NWE Italy, while edging up slightly in the UK to GBP 1255–1260/mt, a week-on-week gain of GBP 5/mt.
Despite the marginal gains in spot prices, sentiment remains under pressure. Trading momentum has slowed as many buyers had already secured essential volumes before seasonal shutdowns at converter plants across late July and August. The market continues to grapple with oversupply, particularly for homopolymer grades, placing significant pressure on sellers. Weak demand and backwardated August pricing, following a decline in the monthly contract price for propylene, have added further headwinds.
Upstream, spot propylene prices slipped to Euro 705–715/mt FD Northwest Europe, down Euro 25/mt on the week. The European propylene contract price for August 2025 settled at Euro 1005/mt FD Northwest Europe, a decline of Euro 10/mt from July. Unless demand improves meaningfully before the month’s end, PP producers may be forced to consider deeper production cuts or increase exports to manage swelling inventories.
