The chart above is a sample of historical data taken from Intratec Primary Commodity Prices. It presents price assessments for Polystyrene, in USA Dollar per metric ton (USD/mt), across 4 key locations, as follows:
- Polystyrene (GPPS), US (United States): Polystyrene (general purpose), export transaction price, fob, United States
- Polystyrene (GPPS), CN (China): Polystyrene (general purpose), domestic spot price, exw, China
- Polystyrene (EPS), US (United States): Polystyrene (expandable), import transaction price, cif, United States
- Polystyrene (EPS), CN (China): Polystyrene (expandable), domestic spot price, exw, China
- Polystyrene (Scrap), EUR (Europe): Polystyrene (scrap), export transaction price, fob, France
- Polystyrene (Scrap), NEA (Northeast Asia): Polystyrene (scrap), export transaction price, fob, Japan
- Polystyrene (GPPS), EUR (Europe): Polystyrene (general purpose), domestic spot price, ddp, Northwest Europe
- Polystyrene (HIPS), EUR (Europe): Polystyrene (high impact), domestic spot price, ddp, Northwest Europe
- Polystyrene (EPS), EUR (Europe): Polystyrene (expandable), domestic spot price, ddp, Northwest Europe
This sample data is provided for illustrative purposes only. Subscribe now and access up-to-date monthly prices of 225 commodities, including Polystyrene.
Data Use
Polystyrene prices are provided as an annual subscription where subscribers have access to reliable pricing data of 225 commodities worldwide.
Intratec's methodology employs a structured big data strategy that utilizes advanced technologies to extract publicly available data from primary sources such as governmental trade records, statistics bureaus, and international agencies.
This data is then processed through mathematical models to generate reliable assessments, published at the very beginning of each month. To better understand the data provided check Intratec Primary Commodity Prices Methodology.
Data Delivery Methods
Polystyrene price assessments are available via different delivery methods:
- Online charts
- Directly into Excel (using Intratec Add-in)
- Power BI dashboards
- Web API (to facilitate integration with existing workflows)
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Polystyrene Price Outlook
Polystyrene Price Outlook. The price of Polystyrene (GPPS, United States) increased during July 2020 to 1,240 USD per metric ton, which represents a rise of 6% compared to the previous month’s value. On a year-over-year basis, the prices of Polystyrene (GPPS, United States) decreased significantly by 9%. Meanwhile, the average price of Polystyrene (GPPS, China) amounted to 989 USD per metric ton, from 1,210 USD per metric ton one year earlier. On a month-over-month basis, the price of Polystyrene (GPPS, China) is 3% higher than the price one month before.
The price of Polystyrene (EPS, China) was flat throughout July 2020. The price remained the same when compared to the average price in the previous month and 20% lower than the average price one year before. In contrast, the prices of Polystyrene (GPPS, Europe) increased significantly during July 2020, reaching 1,160 USD per metric ton, which means a rise of 8% from the previous month’s price and a decline of 11% from the previous year’s price.
The prices of Polystyrene (HIPS, Europe) experienced a significant rise of 80 USD per metric ton from the prior month's price, to 1,190 USD per metric ton. Such price movement meant a rise of 7% on a monthly basis and a decrease of 13% on a yearly basis. On the other hand, in July 2020, the price of Polystyrene (EPS, Europe) witnessed a rise of 80 USD per metric ton when compared against the previous month's price, to 1,140 USD per metric ton. The July 2020 price is 17% lower than the price one year before.
About Polystyrene
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), though it is also available as Expandable Polystyrene (EPS) and High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS). Scrap polystyrene also has its value on the market. Additionally, the polymer lends itself to easy processing through techniques such as injection molding, extrusion, and thermoforming.
The styrene can be polymerized to Polystyrene by anionic, cationic, free-radical, and Ziegler-Natta mechanisms, however most industrial production of Polystyrene is based on free-radical polymerization due to simpler process configuration (less/no requirements in terms of monomer purification and initiator residues removal). In fact, while styrene itself can form polymerization-initiating radicals, radical-forming initiators do not necessarily have to be used for styrene polymerization.
In addition to the different reaction mechanisms, polystyrene production can also differ according to the technological route employed: solution, suspension or mass (bulk) polymerization. The solution route is favored when polymers with low residual monomer content and high purity are desired. The suspension route, on the other hand, facilitates the creation of polymers with varying molecular weights, allowing for the production of specialized crystal and high-impact grades of PS. Lastly, bulk polymerization offers advantages such as the clarity and outstanding color of the resulting resins, being the preferred method for most industrial units.
Polystyrene Handling. 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. 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),
- Styrene (solution polymerization)
Polystyrene Uses. 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.
There is competition from other plastics and materials. For instance, in the realm of food packaging, certain manufacturers have transitioned to options like paper. In the consumer electronics sector, alternative plastics like acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate (PC) have supplanted a portion of the usage of polystyrene (PS).