Composites/GRP May: No end to upward trend for resins in sight / Low-priced imports keep some glass fibre prices unchanged / No stimuli from application markets
Although the price of the main feedstock, styrene, rose only slightly, shortages of other precursors and intermediate products triggered significant price increases for medium-reactive ortho resins again. In May, hikes of up to EUR 250/t were implemented in some cases. For June, individual producers have already asked for further hikes of up to EUR 400/t. Since propylene glycol is also likely to be in short supply due to competition from the cosmetics industry, there is still no end to the upward price trend in sight.
Converters will likely be adopting an even more cautious and hesitant approach than they have so far. No momentum from customer industries is expected before the summer holidays now.
Glass fibre products presented a mixed picture. Prices for chopped strand mats remained unchanged on average, while those for roving rose significantly. The situation is unlikely to change much in June – with prices remaining stable for chopped strand mats and a renewed price increase for roving.
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