ПЕ2Б (4)On February 1, North American selling prices for polyethylene and polystyrene resin solids decreased by an average of 2 cents per pound as a result of lower raw material costs. The fall in prices PE reflected on all grades of high density, low density and linear low density polymer. The decline has been observed for the second consecutive month after three months of stability. The fall in prices in January amounted to 3 cents per pound.

World crude oil prices remain crucial for the PE market, although the majority of North American PE producers use natural gas as a raw material. The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices were about $ 39 per barrel since the beginning of the year, but soon fell below $ 30 and set at $ 32 at the start of trading on 25 February.

Regional PE manufacturers continue to focus on the creation of the export market in order to download the new PE capacity volumes, which is planned to enter at the beginning of this year. Increasing the availability of inexpensive natural gas from shale formations has led to a wave of new plug-ins PE production throughout North America.