Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) prices in the United States remained unchanged this week, even as market participants continued to digest the federal government’s decision to impose full tariffs on PET and recycled PET imports effective September 8, 2025.
According to an industry source, the tariff announcement initially created confusion, prompting many buyers and sellers to pause trading while they reassessed the implications for supply chains and pricing. The U.S. PET market has already been grappling with muted demand, weighed down by broader macroeconomic pressures and a period of trade uncertainty.
Despite the cautious start, sentiment is gradually improving. Market players now expect domestically produced PET to become more competitive relative to imported material, potentially spurring stronger offtake in the coming weeks as tariffs tilt the balance in favor of U.S. producers.
Price assessments reflected this steady mood. Delivered-duty-paid (DDP) West Coast PET prices were assessed at USD 1,070–1,090 per metric ton, holding flat compared with the previous week. Feedstock costs followed the same pattern, with purified terephthalic acid (PTA) assessed at USD 1,316.80–1,316.81 per metric ton FOB U.S. Gulf and monoethylene glycol (MEG) spot prices steady at 21.00–21.50 cents per pound FOB U.S. Gulf.
Meanwhile, the global picture showed little change. In Asia, PET prices were reported at USD 770–790 per metric ton FOB Far East Asia, also stable from the prior week. Market analysts suggest that the combination of steady feedstock values and the new tariff environment could set the stage for more pronounced price movements in the U.S. as the industry adjusts to the evolving trade landscape.
