High prices for crude oil have fanned fears of global inflation. At the same time, weak demand for raw materials has tempered expectations of a large-scale recovery for a European plastics recycling market characterized by continuing low prices and elevated stocks.

• Subdued market demand undermining effect of rising oil prices
• Shift in market focus among recyclers in South East Asia
• Mandates required to push use of recycled content

• Paradigm shift required in collection strategies
• Potential for thriving rPET market in South East Asia
• 2024 shaping up to be pivotal year for chemical recycling

• Post-consumer resins hit by cheap imports and lacklustre markets
• Lower-than-expected volumes for PET
• Plummeting prices for HDPE natural and colour

• Companies abandoning recycled material in favour of virgin
• Spanish producers paying tax rather than using recycled plastic
• AI a posible route to greater efficencies

• Manufacturers reverting from plastic recyclate to virgin
• Recyclate market prices stable at a low level domestically
• Recyclers under pressure owing to drop in throughput and margins

• Low levels of demand and consumption
• Price falls generally slowing
• Large stocks of some qualities

• 10%-plus price hike for LDPE transparent granules
• PS regrind and granules suffer price fall
• Blow-moulded HDPE in demand

• Market moving towards production of high-quality recycled resins
• Strong growth anticipated for UAE’s plastics recycling market
• Success in converting plastic waste-derived oil into certified circular polymers