Activity in Europe’s recycled polypropylene (R-PP) market picked up this week with new offers surfacing from the UK. According to a source, a UK-based producer is heard to have offered its R-PP homopolymer P512 grade, described as medium melt, black colour with an MFI of 10, at GBP 575 per metric ton. The material is being made available in 20-ton lots on an Ex Works basis for September 2025 shipment.
Market participants observed that the pricing at £575/mt reflects the ongoing pressure recyclers face as virgin polypropylene values remain competitive, leaving many converters reluctant to lock in larger volumes of recyclates. Although R-PP continues to benefit from regulatory support across the European Union, including mandates for recycled content in packaging and automotive applications, weak downstream demand and abundant supply have capped sentiment.
Converters in Europe have adopted a cautious procurement strategy, with several buyers opting to secure only immediate requirements rather than build forward inventories. Traders commented that the UK offer is competitively positioned within current market ranges, though uptake will depend heavily on cost comparisons with virgin PP, which remains widely available at discounted levels due to oversupply.
The Ex Works basis of the offer places the burden of transportation and logistics costs on the buyer, which may influence competitiveness depending on end-user proximity and freight rates. Nonetheless, industry sources said such offers are important markers for the market, providing reference points for negotiations as September begins and trading activity gradually returns following the summer lull.
Observers noted that recycled polypropylene grades such as P512 continue to attract interest from segments like injection moulding and automotive, where mechanical properties align with performance needs. However, without a stronger recovery in downstream consumption, pricing is expected to remain under pressure in the near term.
