HDPE Prices Hold Steady in Asia, Stay Weak in Europe Amid Cautious Buying
- 04-Jun-2025 6:00 PM
- Journalist: Conrad Beissel
In the last week of May 2025, High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) prices showed different trends in Asia and Europe. Prices in Asia stayed mostly steady, as buyers were cautious and demand from end-users remained low. In Europe, HDPE prices were slightly low to stable, with some signs that they might be starting to level off. Both regions were affected by weak market conditions, uncertain trade policies, and careful buying from customers.
听Key Takeaways:
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HDPE prices in Asia stayed mostly stable due to too much supply and weaker seasonal demand.
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In China, packaging film was the only sector with a bit of buying interest, while overall supply remained high.
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In Europe, HDPE prices showed mixed trends across different product types, but overall demand was still low.
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European demand was steady for packaging and agricultural use, but construction-related demand stayed weak.
The Asian HDPE market was marked by a broadly stable price trend during the final week of May. In China, market participants reported stagnant pricing, with a persistent oversupply in the spot market exerting downward pressure. The onset of the traditional off-season further reduced demand across most sectors, except for packaging film, which offered limited support.
Market sentiment remains weak as traders adopt a wait-and-see approach, leading to reduced transaction volumes. As suppliers compete to maintain market share, price fluctuations have been limited to a narrow band, reflecting a lack of clear direction.
The European HDPE market showed moderately low to stable pricing, with slight increases seen in Germany for injection moulding grades, while film-grade HDPE held steady. Spot prices firmed slightly on the back of higher producer offers, though demand remained limited to select downstream sectors.
Contract buyers said they still needed a steady amount of HDPE for packaging and agricultural film. But slow demand from the construction sector and too much supply kept prices from going up. Overall, the market remained quiet, as many buyers were unsure and avoided making large purchases.
The market is also grappling with trade policy concerns, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a 50% tariff on EU imports starting June 1. If enacted, this move could prompt the EU to reinstate 25% tariffs on U.S. PE imports鈥攑osing particular risk to HDPE. The uncertainty has dampened transatlantic trading interest, despite attractive arbitrage opportunities, as buyers await greater clarity on trade developments.
果酱视频 expects HDPE prices in Asia and Europe to stay stable or slightly lower in June 2025. This is due to weak demand, plenty of supply, and ongoing trade policy uncertainty. Buyers are being careful with purchases, and downstream demand for HDPE remains slow, making a quick price recovery unlikely in the near term.