Crude Oil prices, a key indicator of global economic confidence, have recently fallen to a 4-year low as concerns continue about President Trump’s US import tariff policies. As can been seen in the table above, most monomer prices fell by a greater extent.

Prices in the polymer market look somewhat rangebound. Much that sellers would like to increase prices to cover increased feedstock costs, and the expense of shipping goods around the Cape of Good Hope, in order to avoid the terrorist issues affecting the Red Sea route, buyers appear to be able to secure materials at favourable prices.

The economy in 2023 was dominated by the effects of the global economic slowdown. Relatively high levels of price inflation present in the first half of the year started to moderate towards the end of the year.

Welcome to this first edition of this Packaging Price Know-how report. It is our intention to publish this report on a monthly basis and provide you with valuable insights into some of the economic factors affecting plastic film prices.