This week, PP spot prices fell in the European region.An industry source in Europe informed a Polymerupdate team member, “Price declines in the European polypropylene (PP) spot market could be attributed to limited trading activity and weak demand from downstream sectors. Both homopolymer and copolymer grades saw reductions in spot prices, while contract prices remained stable. In light of buyer resistance, some sellers retracted their proposed increases in contract prices. Nevertheless, uncertainty lingered in the spot market as buyers hesitated to make commitments due to sluggish demand in critical derivative industries, such as automotive and construction. Sellers pointed to broader economic uncertainty and insufficient end-user demand as factors contributing to the lacklustre market activity in March. Although overall demand for PP was weak, it was somewhat better than the worst-case projected scenario. The food packaging sector was the sole derivative market to exhibit signs of improvement. The source added, “Market sentiment continued to be negative, with certain participants beginning to look ahead to April, viewing business activities to have been mostly concluded for March. Given the ongoing weak market conditions, focus shifted to the developments within the adjoining polyethylene (PE) sector. Conversations arose regarding the possibility of the EU imposing duties on PE sourced from the US. Although no comparable tariffs were suggested for polypropylene (PP), market players speculated that increased taxes on PE could interfere with supply chains, thereby indirectly impacting the availability of PP. In the spot markets, PP injection moulding grade prices were assessed at the Euro 1165-1175/mt FD North West Europe mark, a week on week drop of Euro (-20/mt). Meanwhile, PP block copolymer grade prices were assessed at the Euro 1225-1235/mt FD Northwest Europe levels, a fall of Euro (-10/mt) from last week.Meanwhile in the contract markets, PP injection moulding grade prices were assessed at the Euro 1550-1555/mt FD NWE Germany and FD NWE France levels, both steady from the previous week. PP injection moulding grade prices were assessed at the Euro 1540-1545/mt FD NWE Italy levels, week on week steady. Meanwhile, PP injection moulding grade prices were assessed at the GBP 1300-1305/mt FD NWE UK levels, down GBP (-5/mt) from last week.In the contract markets, PP block copolymer grade prices were assessed at the Euro 1620-1625/mt FD NWE Germany and FD NWE France levels, both unchanged from week on week. PP block copolymer grade prices were assessed at the Euro 1610-1615/mt FD NWE Italy levels, rolled over from the previous week. Meanwhile, PP block copolymer grade prices were assessed at the GBP 1360-1365/mt FD NWE UK levels, remaining flat from the last weekFCA Antwerp PP homopolymer prices were assessed at the Euro 1150-1180/mt level, a week on week fall of Euro (-20/mt). Meanwhile, FCA Antwerp PP copolymer prices were assessed at the Euro 1210-1240/mt levels, down Euro (-10/mt) from last week.Upstream propylene spot prices on Thursday were assessed at the Euro 965-975/mt FD Northwest Europe levels, a week on week decrease of Euro (-15/mt).European propylene contract price for March 2025 settled at the Euro 1135/MT FD North West Europe levels. This price represents an increase of Euro 7.50/mt from its February 2025 settlement levels.
