The post-summer holiday period in Europe has brought signs of firmer virgin polymer values but, as yet, little scope for plastics recyclers to increase their prices. Fluctuations in the price of oil are making the outlook even more difficult to call. Longer term, however, the prospects for plastics recycling remain positive (...)

• Increases driven by severe global oil supply tightness
• Indian market experiencing explosive prices and shortages
• European virgin polymer market remains cautious

• Middle East disruption keeps virgin markets volatile
• Striking tension in policy arena
• Need to address unfair competition from virgin resin imports

• Europe’s recycled plastic market currently unstable
• New harmonisation criteria for “end-of-waste” status
• Regulation of mass balance method to boost chemical recycling

• Recycled content requirements helping to boost rPET market
• Virgin polymer pricing the dominant short-term market driver
• Regulatory developments to provide increasing support for recycling

• Only partial recovery in September following summer holidays
• Continued oversupply of both virgin and recycled polymers
• Demand strongest for food-grade rPET, natural rHDPE and certified PCR materials