Polystyrene Price | Current and Forecast
Monitor Polystyrene Prices Worldwide
Intratec tracks the following commodity prices in multiple locations.
See below a preview of GPPS prices, as an example of prices available. It presents monthly GPPS prices in 7 locations: United States, South America, Europe, South Asia & Oceania, China, Middle East, Africa.
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Data Legend. The GPPS price chart shows the prices in USA Dollar per metric ton (USD/mt) in 7 locations, as follows:
- US: Polystyrene, GPPS, United States, transaction, fob
- SAM: Polystyrene, GPPS, South America, transaction, fob, Brazil
- EUR: Polystyrene, GPPS, Europe, transaction, fob, Belgium
- SEA: Polystyrene, GPPS, South Asia & Oceania, transaction, fob, Singapore
- CN: Polystyrene, GPPS, China, transaction, cif
- MDE: Polystyrene, GPPS, Middle East, transaction, fob, Saudi Arabia
- AFR: Polystyrene, GPPS, Africa, transaction, cif, South Africa
Data Use. GPPS prices are provided as an annual subscription where subscribers have access to reliable pricing data of 237 commodities worldwide. To better understand data provided by Intratec Primary Commodity Prices, check the following documents: Price Assessment Basis , Commodities Specifications , Methodology , User Guide , and Glossary .
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Price Dynamics. The GPPS price in United States increased during November 2018 to 1,630 USD per metric ton, which represents a slight rise of 1% compared to the previous month’s value. On a year-over-year basis, GPPS prices in United States decreased by 7%. Meanwhile, in Belgium, the average price of GPPS amounted to 1,410 USD per metric ton, from 1,470 USD per metric ton one year earlier. On a month-over-month basis, the GPPS price in Belgium is 7% lower than the price one month before.
The price of GPPS in China declined slightly throughout November 2018, reaching 1,370 USD per metric ton. The price in China is 1% lower than the average price in the previous month and 7% lower than the average price one year before. In contrast, GPPS prices in Singapore decreased during November 2018, reaching 1,470 USD per metric ton, which means a decline of 7% from the previous month’s price and a rise of 3% from the previous year’s price.
The GPPS prices in Saudi Arabia experienced a modest decline of 60 USD per metric ton from the prior month's price, to 1,500 USD per metric ton. Such price movement in Saudi Arabia meant a decrease of 4% on a monthly basis and a rise of 6% on a yearly basis. On the other hand, in November 2018, the GPPS price in Brazil witnessed a rise of 40 USD per metric ton when compared against the previous month's price, to 1,470 USD per metric ton. The November 2018 price in Brazil is 5% higher than the price one year before.
In South Africa, the average price of GPPS was 1,630 USD per metric ton on November 2018 – a little increase of 50 USD per metric ton, or 3%, compared with the previous month. On a year-over-year basis, the GPPS price in South Africa is 8% higher than the price one year before.
About Polystyrene. Polystyrene (a.k.a. PS, Thermocol), a thermoplastic polymer with a high molecular weight, is manufactured from the styrene monomer. This material, commonly referred to as PS, exhibits characteristics of hardness, rigidity, and exceptional transparency, accompanied by commendable chemical resistance. Due to its versatility, polystyrene finds extensive application and ranks among the most widely produced polymers globally. The prevailing form of commercialized polystyrene is known as General Purpose Polystyrene (GPPS). Additionally, the polymer lends itself to easy processing through techniques such as injection molding, extrusion, and thermoforming.
The transformation of styrene into Polystyrene can be accomplished through various mechanisms, including anionic, cationic, free-radical, and Ziegler-Natta processes. However, the predominant approach employed in industrial production involves free-radical polymerization. This preference arises from the simpler process configuration, which requires fewer or no stringent measures for monomer purification and removal of initiator residues. In fact, while styrene possesses the ability to generate polymerization-initiating radicals on its own, the utilization of radical-forming initiators is not obligatory for styrene polymerization. In the context of Polystyrene production, continuous bulk polymerization is commonly employed in most industrial facilities.
The storage and transportation of Polystyrene does not pose problems, as there are no specific regulatory issues regarding its transport. This polymer can be transported in paper or polyethylene bags, in cardboard containers, in silo vehicles, or in containers. In the case of Expandable Polystyrene (EPS), the storage should be made in a well-ventilated place, since pentane can naturally evolve from EPS as a gas into the atmosphere and is flammable at low concentrations (1.3% volume in air).
Polystyrene production consists in the polymerization of styrene, in such a way that different manufacturing routes are related to different sources of such raw material. In this context, Polystyrene production routes can be based on styrene derived from ethylbenzene, toluene and methanol, benzene and ethylene. Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of Polystyrene are listed below.
- Styrene (suspension polymerization),
- Styrene (bulk polymerisation)
The uses and applications of Polystyrene may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Polystyrene are General Purpose Polystyrene (GPPS); High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS); Expandable Polystyrene (EPS), in the forms of molded foam; expanded beads; and resins.
