US polymer markets faced another week of broad-based weakness, with most key resins posting price declines under the weight of abundant supply and soft demand. Sellers across polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene grappled with swelling inventories and hesitant buyers, while even the normally resilient PET market held flat as participants assessed fresh trade policy shifts.
High-density polyethylene export prices led the downward move, pressured by sluggish offtake and already-elevated inventories. Market players described August and September sales as subdued, with buyers delaying purchases and end-of-year pricing emerging earlier than usual. The additional release of hurricane preparedness stocks added to market length and eroded sentiment further.
Low-density polyethylene mirrored this pattern. Despite producers competing aggressively, export prices slipped as ample supply met restrained buying. Participants pointed to weak macroeconomic indicators and flat downstream consumption, noting that even attractive offers failed to ignite a meaningful rebound.
Linear low-density polyethylene fared no better. Persistent oversupply and quiet buying kept market conditions “lengthy,” as sellers struggled to clear excess material. Brokers and producers sought to move cargoes before further declines, but buyers largely held back, waiting for deeper discounts.
Polypropylene exports also softened, extending the negative trend. US-origin homopolymer and copolymer grades were offered at some of the most competitive levels seen this year, yet purchasing interest remained minimal. Global oversupply, combined with low-priced imports from Asia, continued to divert demand from US shipments, leaving market players pessimistic about near-term recovery.
Polystyrene prices eased, following a drop in benzene costs and a lack of downstream momentum. US general-purpose polystyrene export levels edged lower as producers confronted thin buying interest. Overseas markets such as Asia displayed steadier pricing, but weak consumption in key sectors offered little support.
Polyvinyl chloride exports remained under heavy pressure. Offers hovered between USD 555–565 per metric ton, a range that several traders said implied sales at negative margins. Participants warned that additional declines could emerge in coming weeks if demand does not improve, underscoring the depth of the current slowdown.
Polyethylene terephthalate stood as the rare exception, with prices holding steady. However, the calm reflected hesitation rather than strength. Buyers paused to gauge the effect of newly announced tariffs on PET and recycled PET imports, effective September 8, which could alter supply chains and cost competitiveness in the weeks ahead.
Across the US polymer landscape, sentiment remains subdued. Inventories are high, buying is selective, and the usual year-end lull has arrived early. Unless demand strengthens or supply tightens unexpectedly, sellers face continued headwinds as they navigate the final quarter of 2025.
