In this week's episode, Michael Workman breaks down what's actually happening across all nine major resin markets and why buyers who treat them the same right now are leaving money in one category while overpaying in another. 

PE is going flat despite a $0.20/lb nomination — buyer resistance is working, and the ACC data supports holding the line. PET is getting genuine feedstock relief as PX expectations reversed from a 4¢/lb increase to a slight decline. 

But benzene is approaching $5.00/gal, INEOS has reportedly refused new ABS business until August, and PA66 is facing a structural supply reduction before July that most buyers haven't priced into their H2 plans. 

Michael also shares what Bill Bowie — 30+ years in the industry — said about the mistake buyers make when markets split, and why the PA66 story this week is more about M&A and plant closures than feedstocks.

TOPICS COVERED

• Why May is a completely different market than April
• The benzene-chain resins: ABS, PS, PC, PA6, PA66 — cost support is real, here's what to do
• PE going flat: what the ACC data shows and why buyer resistance is winning
• PET relief window: how long it lasts and how to use it
• PA66 structural story: Celanese Singapore closure, Lone Star / DOMO / RadiciGroup — what it means for H2 contracts
• Nine-resin recap: specific action for each market 

KEY DATA POINTS

• PE inventory draw: 23.3M lbs (more moderate than expected)
• PE days of supply: 35 — demand rates -2%, operating rates -2%
• Benzene: $4.95/gal — up $0.30 on the week
• Caprolactam: $1,857/mt and still climbing
• PA66 Celanese Singapore: 55,000 tpa closing after July 2026
• Lone Star acquisitions: DOMO (May 12) + RadiciGroup HPP (Apr 30)
• PX: reversed from +4¢/lb expectation to a slight decline
• WTI: $101.02 · Brent: $105.63 

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Michael Workman breaks down what's signal vs. noise — and introduces the framework he shared at FlexForum this week: the instrument panel model for procurement. You can't predict market turbulence. But buyers who know their benchmark, their leverage map, and their cost model don't need to.

This episode covers: 

• Why PE nominations up 20¢/lb are margin expansion, not cost recovery 
• What the PA66 capacity closures mean structurally 
• How to read a Force Majeure letter before accepting a price increase 
• And the Half-Penny Principle every convertor should understand.

#resin prices #polyethylene market 2026 #polypropylene Force Majeure #PA66 capacity closures #Celanese #resin procurement strategy #plastic raw material costs #resin market update May 2026 #PET pricing forecast #polymer cost intelligence

But disciplined buyers don't drop the stick.

This week, Michael Workman breaks down the market across PP, PS, ABS, PC, and PVC — and more importantly, where buyers still have leverage right now before May nominations fully land.

Key topics:

• The 6¢ margin enhancement buried inside PP's April increase — and what your contract language says about it
• Why PC and ABS are cost stories, not scarcity stories — and why that matters for how hard you push back
• The ABS window: at least one major producer not taking new orders through year-end
• Four specific actions for this week
• Why protecting the crease is the right procurement posture right now

Also: the kids show up exactly when they were told to. Penalty killing at home is a different sport.

If you're at Flex Forum next week — come find us.

Powered by ResinSmart and the RESIN8 engine — real transaction data, trusted cost models, no more guesswork. resinsmart.ai

With polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, PVC, nylons, and PET all moving higher at the same time, buyers are being hit with a volume of increase letters that’s difficult to process — and in many cases, they’re disengaging at exactly the wrong moment.

Michael Workman, CMO of ResinSmart, breaks down the current market setup across the major resin categories, explains why the cost floor is being reset upstream by crude and feedstocks, and outlines why the gap between nominated and realized price is still very much in play.

He also shares a practical negotiation approach that top buyers use in cycles like this — and why the most important lever right now isn’t process or contract language, but the direct conversation with your supplier rep.

If your current response to increase letters is to file them and move on, this episode is for you.

Topics covered:

• Broad-based resin increases across PE, PP, ABS, PVC, PET, and nylons
• Crude oil above $100 and the geopolitical premium in the market
• PE nominations stacking into May and cumulative Q2 exposure
• PP PGP feedstock strength and tightening supply dynamics
• ABS spread signaling uncertainty in producer expectations
• PVC turnarounds driving inventory drawdowns
• Nylon feedstock spikes and downstream cost implications
• The concept of “increase fatigue” and how it impacts buyer behavior
• Why nominations are not the final number — and where leverage still exists
• The role of supplier relationships in determining realized price outcomes
• A simple call framework to improve negotiation results in real time

ResinSmart is the buyer-side resin market intelligence platform built on 25+ years of real transaction data.

Learn more at resinsmart.ai.

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn.

Subscribe to the Resin Market Moves newsletter.

Headlines, supplier messaging, market updates—it’s constant. And when things get volatile, it’s easy to feel like you need to react to all of it.

In this session, we talk through how we separate real signals from noise. What actually matters, what doesn’t, and how strong procurement teams make better decisions when the market is moving.

We cover:

•  What’s actually driving resin pricing right now 
•  The most common mistakes buyers make during disruptions 
•  Why fundamentals matter more than headlines 
•  How better teams prepare instead of just reacting 
•  Real examples of how we analyze what’s happening in the market 

This was recorded live on April 22nd with our team in Fort Worth, so it’s a bit more conversational—but it’s a good look at how we think through these situations in real time.

If you’re responsible for buying resin or trying to make sense of the market, this should be useful.

In this episode, Michael unpacks that discovery — and what it revealed about the structural information gap that still affects every plastic processor's commercial performance today. When resin is 40–60% of your part cost, wrong cost assumptions don't just affect procurement. They travel all the way into the quote, the margin, and the P&L.

Then: the April 17, 2026 market read. A crude pullback on U.S.-Iran ceasefire news has created some noise, but polymer fundamentals are firmly up — PE tracking $0.15/lb, PP heading for its fourth consecutive monthly increase, PVC navigating Formosa force majeure, ABS staring at up to $0.27/lb in proposed increases, and PET dealing with a tight MEG market heading into beverage season.

What you'll hear this episode:
→ The plastic processor deal autopsy story — and what it revealed about information asymmetry
→ Why "wrong input costs" is a sales problem, not just a procurement problem
→ Three things companies with strong cost position discipline do differently
→ The full April 17 market brief across eight commodity grades
→ How to think about crude volatility when polymer fundamentals don't follow

ResinSmart is the buyer-side resin procurement intelligence platform powered by RTi — built on 5B+ lbs of verified buyer-seller transaction data. To see how your current cost position compares to the real market, visit resinsmart.ai.

Michael Workman, CMO of ResinSmart, walks through what's actually driving April nominations across the full resin portfolio, explains why the mid-week crude oil pullback tied to the US-Iran ceasefire doesn't change the structural setup, and lays out the three things that consistently separate buyers who protect margins in this kind of environment from those who don't.

He also draws on Joel Petersen's framework for conducting effective negotiations — and explains why the resin supplier call you're about to have is won or lost before you pick up the phone.

If your benchmark is still a published index, this episode is for you.

Topics covered: 

PE nominations up to $0.30/lb for April with $0.20/lb already on the table for May 

— PP PGP feedstock dynamics and overlapping PDH outages 
— ABS, PS, and PC moving on benzene 
— PET tracking the April PX contract to ~82.5 cents/lb 
— PVC turnaround season tightening spot supply through May 
— PA6 and PA66 cost floor under soft demand 
— What the US-Iran ceasefire means and doesn't mean for buyers 
— Preparation as the primary determinant of negotiation outcomes 
— The difference between a supplier's position and their interest 
— Why timing is information and the Q2 window is closing

ResinSmart is the buyer-side resin market intelligence platform built on 25+ years of real transaction data.

Start your 60-day free trial at resinsmart.ai.

This week's RTi Drivers report — resinsmart.ai

Start your 60-day free trial — resinsmart.ai

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-workman-04085923/.

Joel Petersen on Conducting Effective Negotiations — youtube.com/watch?v=rCmvMDrCWjs.

Read this week's PlasticsToday article — https://www.plasticstoday.com/resin-pricing/resin-price-report-feedstock-costs-just-reset-the-plastic-resin-market.

Subscribe to the Resin Market Moves newsletter — ResinSmart Newsletter Subscription.

Runtime: 4:14

Episode Summary

The April feedstock contracts settled sharply higher across the board — and producers across every major resin category are pushing price increases into Q2. In this short episode, Michael Workman gives plastic manufacturers and procurement teams a fast, buyer-side read on what's driving the market and where there's still room to negotiate. Covered: PE, PP, PVC, PS, ABS, PC, PA6, PA66, and PET — with a clear framework for which categories buyers can contest and which ones require a different tactical approach.

In This Episode

• Why benzene, butadiene, ethylene, and paraxylene all moved higher for April — and what that means for your cost base
• The demand counterweight: consumer sentiment, automotive SAAR, and construction data that buyers can use as negotiating leverage
• Category-by-category snapshot: where producers have leverage vs. where buyers do
• The one move that changes the dynamic in any supplier negotiation this month

Resources

ResinSmart - Get your Resin Benchmark today. https://resinsmart.ai/resin-price-benchmark

Contact Michael: mworkman@resinsmart.ai | (214) 984-2977

The headline: producers are moving beyond cost recovery and into margin expansion — layering increases across March, April, and now May in PE and PP. The Hormuz situation is real supply risk and it's providing strategic cover for moves that were coming regardless.

This episode covers PE, PP, ABS, PS, PC, Nylon 6, PA66, PVC, and PET — with a specific buyer action for each.

The two critical markets this week: ABS and PS. Benzene is above $4.00/gal. Multiple producers have April increases on the table. If you don't have a qualified alternate, you are unprotected heading into June nominations.

The opportunity market: PC. BPA is flat. China oversupply is capping the ceiling. The buyer leverage window is open right now and will not stay open.

Also covered: force majeure declared on PA66 in China, what the Invista PDH outage means for PP, and why new home sales hitting a 3.5-year low matters for your PVC contracts.

Purchase wisely.

ResinSmart | Powered by RTi | resinsmart.ai

The conflict in the Middle East has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to meaningful trade flow. Over 20% of global crude and more than 5% of global PP moves through that channel. It is not moving right now. The result: feedstock costs spiking across the board, producers pushing increases in every major resin simultaneously, and export demand pulling hard at US domestic supply.

This is not a single-resin story. This is a portfolio-level event. And the buyers who understand what is driving each specific market — as opposed to accepting every increase as inevitable — will protect their margins in Q2.

WHAT WE COVER:

• PE: Up to $0.10/lb March, $0.15/lb April. Brent at $110–$115. Ethylene toward 30 cents/lb.
• PP: PGP spot at 51 cents/lb, a 50%+ jump month to date. Invista PDH still offline. One producer at +10 cents/lb April.
• PS: BZ above $4.00/gal. AmSty 17 cents/lb for April. February supply/demand data actually supports the move.
• PVC: 3–5 cents/lb March. Heavy turnaround season. One supplier at 7 cents/lb for April.
• ABS: Celanese $0.20/lb and INEOS $0.15/lb for April. Acrylonitrile up $0.19/lb week over week.
• PET: Indorama moving immediately. APG and Celanese following. World Cup demand tailwind ahead.
• PC, PA6, PA66: Celanese moving across engineered materials. April the focus. Demand still soft.
• The 5 things smart buyers are doing right now before Q2 locks in.

RESOURCES:

• ResinSmart Price Benchmark
• 60-day free trial 
• Weekly newsletter

——

ResinSmart is the industry's only platform combining real resin market analytics with hands-on supplier negotiation guidance. Powered by RTi — 25+ years, 25B+ lbs of transaction data.

Subscribe for weekly episodes every Friday.

That gap is real. And it's costing your company money every quarter.

In this episode, ResinSmart Commercial Director Michael Workman sits down with two of the sharpest minds in resin procurement to unpack why the system works this way — and what buyers are doing to flip the script.

Bill Bowie built his career at Poly America under a mentor who taught him the value of a half a penny — and spent the next 40 years applying that lesson across billions of pounds of polymer. Tyler Wheeler came up buying resin for Amcor, the world's largest packaging company, before joining ResinSmart to build the data platform he always wished he'd had.

What you'll hear in this episode:

→ The Daskasill origin story — why ResinSmart exists and what Bill saw in the buying function that needed to change

→ Tyler's polycarbonate story — negotiating a 10-cent win and leaving 40 cents on the table because the data wasn't there

→ Why indexes serve two masters — and how non-market adjustments quietly transfer wealth from buyers to suppliers

→ The 3 keys every buyer can start applying today: build your network, expand your supply base, expand your resin categories

→ What to do with your time when prices are going up and leverage is thin (hint: it's the most important prep work you can do)

→ How the ResinSmart platform combines live feedstocks, cost models, LevGauge assessments, and peer-reviewed transaction data into a single, always-current view of your opportunity

→ The mindset shift: a price increase nomination is the start of a conversation — not the end of one

Notable quotes from this episode:

"Markets go up like a rocket. They come down like a feather. What we do at ResinSmart is turn that feather into a rocket." — Bill Bowie

"I left 40 cents on the table. I thought I'd won. I had no idea." — Tyler Wheeler

"That price increase letter is a nomination. It is not to be held as gospel." — Michael Workman

"The people who use us the most have been the people who needed us the least — because they already know what a competitive edge looks like." — Michael Workman

─────────────────────────────

Resources mentioned:

Free 48-hour benchmark assessment → https://ResinSmart.ai

Connect with Michael Workman → LinkedIn

Connect with Bill Bowie → LinkedIn

Connect with Tyler Wheeler → LinkedIn

In this episode, Michael Workman breaks down data across nine major resin families, explaining where the upward pressure is real, where it's narrative, and what procurement teams should be doing right now to protect their margins.

Topics covered:

• PE: 10¢/lb increase push vs. healthy 38-day inventories
• PP: Feedstock-driven pricing — not demand
• PVC: Legitimate two-sided squeeze (turnarounds + logistics)
• Engineering resins: Cost pressure without pricing power
• PET: World Cup demand catalyst ahead
• How geopolitics actually move resin markets (3 key levers)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , . 

Crude oil has moved above $70 per barrel, propylene prices have surged, and polyethylene producers are already pushing price increases.

But are these signals pointing to a real tightening of the resin market—or simply a shift in supplier narrative?

In this episode of Resin Market Moves, we break down:

• The connection between energy markets and resin pricing
• Why polypropylene is currently a feedstock-driven market
• How global trade flows can shift North American resin availability
• What procurement leaders should be watching over the next 30–60 days

Resin Market Moves delivers clear, data-driven insights to help buyers navigate volatile markets and make smarter purchasing decisions. 

In 2024, the Middle East accounted for:
 • 37% of globally traded PE exports
 • 28% of globally traded PP exports

With approximately 16 million metric tons of polyethylene exports potentially exposed to disruption, the implications extend far beyond the region.

In this episode of Resin Market Moves, we analyze:
 • The scale of global polyolefins trade exposure
 • Why North American buyers are indirectly impacted
 • How export pull can tighten domestic markets
 • The role of oil and natural gas in near-term cost pressure
 • Practical steps resin buyers should take immediately

This episode is focused on structure, not headlines.

Because in volatile markets, discipline is the advantage.

In this episode, we examine:

• PE inventory build of 289M lbs 
• Elevated PGP and its impact on PP
• Turnaround-driven PVC support
• Feedstock inflation risks
• How structural pricing drift builds in opaque markets

For executives responsible for resin spend and EBITDA protection in 2026 - subscribe to stay tuned. https://resinsmart.ai/subscribe

With resin prices near multi-year lows, procurement teams face a new challenge: proving value when the market did most of the work in 2025.

In this episode, Michael Workman, Brian Balboa, Kevin Mekaru, and Tyler Wheeler discuss:

• What polyethylene overcapacity means for buyers
• How Non-Market Adjustments reset pricing baselines
• Why tariff volatility has calmed — but risk hasn’t disappeared
• Engineered resin disruption following major divestitures
• How dual sourcing drives real leverage
• Why traditional consulting RFP models fall short in resin markets
• What private equity firms often overlook in resin diligence
• The shift from price reduction to risk management

This is a practical, strategy-focused discussion for procurement leaders, CFOs, and private equity operators in plastics manufacturing.

Key Takeaways

Low prices create leverage — but only if you act
NMA drift should be addressed before contract reset
Producers are hungry — now is the time to qualify alternates
Procurement credibility matters more in a down market
Resin strategy is central to EBITDA in plastics businesses

If you want to understand how these market dynamics impact your specific resin portfolio, visit us today at ResinSmart.ai

On paper, it looks like a massive correction.

In reality?
It’s creating confusion across procurement, finance, and executive leadership teams.

A non-market adjustment corrects index history — it does not automatically change your invoice.

It is not driven by supply/demand or feedstock collapse.

Once accepted, elevated baselines can persist for multiple cycles.

The first move is validation — not panic renegotiation.

For polyethylene-heavy buyers, this isn’t just noise.
It affects everything.
-Budget variance
-Margin transparency
-Negotiation leverage
-Long-term profitability

The real damage isn’t the number.
It’s what happens if you accept it without understanding your grade-by-grade exposure.

In this special edition of the Resin Market Brief, Brian Balboa and Kevin Mekaru break down:
What an NMA actually is
Why it happens
Why PE buyers are uniquely exposed
What smart procurement teams are doing right now

If your contracts are index-linked, this is required listening.

#ResinSmart #Polyethylene #ProcurementStrategy #NonMarketAdjustment #PlasticsIndustry #ResinPricing #CFOInsights

Polyethylene inventories surged nearly 289MM pounds — yet producers are pushing price increases.

Polypropylene is seeing feedstock pressure.
Polystyrene is reacting to benzene spikes.
PVC is tightening due to turnaround season.
PET remains weak — for now.

So what’s real?

In this episode of Resin Market Brief, Michael Workman explains:

• Why inventory builds don’t automatically mean price relief
• How feedstock reliability is quietly driving polypropylene
• Why engineered resins look stable on the surface — but aren’t underneath
• The structural risks resin buyers face in 2026
• And how forecasting frameworks must evolve to defend decisions

This episode expands on our recent webinar:
“Why Resin Forecasts Break & How Buyers Defend Them.”

If you’re responsible for resin procurement, margin protection, or portfolio performance, this conversation will sharpen how you interpret today’s market signals.

Visit ResinSmart.ai to explore tools that turn signal into strategy.

In this special edition of Resin Market Brief, Michael Workman and Tyler Wheeler discuss why resin forecasts break and what top procurement teams do differently to defend them.

Key topics:

• why forecasts aren’t predictions—they’re decision tools for finance and operations
• the 9 levers that drive resin forecasting (petrochemical chain, supply, demand, margin strategy, freight, tax/tariff/trade, regulatory timing, rebates/credits)
• signal vs. noise (and why some headlines don’t actually move price)
• cross-functional validation: turning “my forecast” into “the company forecast”
• confidence ranges and when to update finance without creating noise
• why most tools provide numbers, but not context—and what to do about it

To explore ResinSmart forecasts and get a complimentary benchmarking assessment, visit https://resinsmart.ai.

Rather than a demand-led recovery, markets are being driven by:

• supply discipline in polyethylene
• feedstock volatility in polypropylene
• cost push without demand support in polystyrene
• rising raw material costs beneath stable pricing in ABS and polycarbonate
• early supplier initiatives in nylons
• and continued buyer leverage in PET

Michael also shares insights from MD&M West 2026, where medical device manufacturers emphasized the high cost of pricing surprises in regulated, long-cycle environments — and why benchmarking is becoming the preferred first step.

This episode focuses on risk, structure, and discipline, not price predictions — and offers a framework buyers can use to navigate 2026 with confidence.

This week’s Resin Market Moves covers:

• PE increases driven by supply discipline
• PP feedstock pressure from PDH outages
• PS cost push without demand support
• Engineering resins stable, but RMC rising
• Nylon supplier initiatives ahead of fundamentals
• PET rollover and what to watch in Q2

Learn more at resinsmart.ai.

Key topics:

• PE: winter storm disruption risk + Ineos FM tightening HD pipe/film
• PP: PDH outages lifting PGP and pushing contracts higher
• PS: benzene-driven cost pressure vs. sluggish demand
• PVC: capacity reductions vs. weak construction demand
• Engineering resins: stable base prices but rising RMC
• PET: slow fundamentals, limited pricing power

This is a year where signals matter more than narratives—and discipline will determine who holds leverage. Get started today at resinsmart.ai. 

We cover:

• PE force majeure and rising January nominations
• PP feedstock-driven pricing pressure
• PVC capacity closures and pricing risk
• PS increases tied to benzene
• What rising RMC means for engineering resins

This is not a uniform upcycle—it’s a selective, volatility-driven market. Buyers who focus on inventories, operating rates, and feedstocks will retain leverage.

Learn more at resinsmart.ai.

Soft demand carryover from 2025 continues to weigh on PE and PP, while supply discipline is already pushing PVC prices higher. Meanwhile, rising benzene and styrene costs are giving PS suppliers new leverage heading into Q1.

Topics Covered

• Soft demand vs. supply discipline in early 2026
• PE and PP pricing dynamics after a weak 2025
• Why PVC is tightening despite weak construction demand
• Feedstock impacts on PS and styrenics
• What procurement teams should watch as volatility increases

Key Takeaway

2026 is shaping up to be a year where volatility and selectivity matter more than direction. Buyers who stay disciplined and focus on real market signals will retain leverage as the year unfolds.

👉 Learn more about ResinSmart: https://www.resinsmart.ai
👉 Start a free trial: https://app.resinsmart.ai/free-trial

In this episode, Michael Workman breaks down one of the year’s first major Black Swan events — the U.S. move to effectively control Venezuelan oil production — and explains what it does and does not mean for North American plastic resin pricing.

This is not a headline-driven take. It’s a practical, buyer-focused analysis of how energy markets, refinery economics, and volatility may influence resin costs — and how procurement teams should think about this development heading into 2026.

What This Episode Covers

• Why Venezuela is an indirect, not direct, resin pricing story
• How heavy crude availability affects Gulf Coast refineries
• The connection between diesel markets, freight costs, and delivered resin pricing
• Why North America’s ethane-based PE advantage remains intact
• Where PP, PS, ABS, and PET may see marginal second-order impacts
• Why volatility — not a new inflationary cycle — is the real risk in 2026

2026 Resin Outlook by Quarter (High Level)

• PE: Structurally insulated; minimal impact across all quarters
• PP: Refinery utilization and PDH reliability matter more than crude headlines
• PS: Feedstock noise likely exceeds real demand signals
• PVC: Demand and housing fundamentals dominate
• PET: Minor freight relief possible; no structural pricing change

Key ResinSmart Buyer Takeaway

This event does not fundamentally change the resin pricing landscape in 2026 — but it does increase volatility and the likelihood of narrative-driven pricing attempts.

Buyers who:

• separate signals from headlines
• watch refinery utilization and feedstock reliability
• benchmark pricing early
• and prepare for volatility

will maintain leverage as the year unfolds.

👉 Learn more about ResinSmart: https://www.resinsmart.ai
👉 Start a free trial: https://app.resinsmart.ai/free-trial

This is not a headline-driven forecast. It’s a practical, buyer-focused discussion on signals vs. noise, why most resin forecasts miss, and how to use forward-looking intelligence to reduce risk and improve negotiation leverage.

What We Cover in This Episode

• Why resin forecasting is so difficult — and why traditional models fail
 • The difference between real market signals and market noise
 • Why starting with real transaction data matters more than index movement
• How ResinSmart and RTi build rolling, quarterly forecasts
• Why confidence ranges matter more than point predictions

2026 Resin Outlook by Polymer Family

• Polyethylene (PE): Balanced to soft early 2026 with tightening risk mid-year
• Polypropylene (PP): Near cycle bottom with Q1–Q2 tightening risk tied to PDH reliability
• PET: Balanced demand with regional volatility and evolving import dynamics
• Polystyrene (PS): Feedstock-driven noise, weak demand limits upside
• PVC: Structurally weak entering 2026; housing demand remains the key driver
• Engineering Resins (ABS, PC, PA6/66): Flat to slightly down early, selective volatility later

Key Takeaway for Resin Buyers

Forecasting isn’t about certainty — it’s about preparation.

The buyers who win in 2026 will be the ones who:

• benchmark fair pricing early,
• re-forecast quarterly,
• separate supplier narratives from real market conditions, and
• use forecasts as a negotiation and planning tool — not a crystal ball.

This episode is designed to help processors plan with confidence instead of reaction.

Learn more about ResinSmart: https://www.resinsmart.ai
Start your free trial: https://app.resinsmart.ai/free-trial

Despite producer attempts to push price increases, most resin markets are still characterized by soft demand, ample supply, and strong buyer leverage.

What’s Covered in This Episode:

• Why PE price increases aren’t supported by demand fundamentals
 • Why PP is near the bottom of the cycle — and why Q1 2026 matters
 • Why PVC remains structurally weak heading into the new year
 • How feedstock noise is affecting PS without real demand recovery
 • Why engineering resins are setting up for volatility, not inflation
 • Why PET remains balanced to soft despite tariff concerns

Big Picture for Buyers

2026 will reward buyers who:

• benchmark pricing early,
• plan deliberately,
• and resist reactive decisions driven by supplier narratives.

The real risk next year isn’t paying slightly more — it’s allowing non-market margin creep back into contracts.

ResinSmart helps buyers gain clarity before the market turns — not after.

👉 Learn more: https://www.resinsmart.ai
👉 Start your free trial: https://app.resinsmart.ai/free-trial

Despite inventory draws in several resin families, demand remains soft across most end markets, leaving buyers with meaningful leverage heading into the new year.

 Topics Discussed

• Polyethylene pricing remains flat despite producer increase attempts
 • Polypropylene demand weakness suggests the cycle bottom is forming
 • Polystyrene pricing holds steady despite feedstock volatility
 • Engineering resins (ABS, PC, nylons) show no year-end momentum
 • PET remains flat amid seasonal demand slowdown
 • Why the current macro environment favors disciplined buyers
 • How to separate real market movement from supplier-driven margin recovery

 What Buyers Should Take Away

As 2025 ends, this remains a buyer-friendly market — but that window will not stay open forever.

Buyers who benchmark pricing, validate increases, and plan proactively will enter 2026 with a significant advantage.

ResinSmart provides the transparency and market intelligence buyers need to negotiate with confidence.

Explore ResinSmart: https://www.ResinSmart.ai
Start a free trial: https://app.resinsmart.ai/free-trial

In this episode, Michael Workman, Kevin Mekaru, and Tyler Wheeler unpack the realities of today’s resin distribution landscape and explain why buyers heading into 2026 need to rethink long-standing assumptions.

This conversation covers what rarely gets discussed publicly — but directly impacts pricing, leverage, service, and risk.

Topics Covered

• How resin distribution really works behind the scenes
• Why consolidation has quietly reduced buyer leverage
• The role of channel managers — and why distributors can’t always quote RFQs
• How private equity ownership is changing distributor behavior
• What happens when resin prices rebound and margin recapture begins
• Why distribution strategy now matters as much as price
• Practical guidance for evaluating your 2026 distribution approach

If you buy resin — especially through distribution — this episode will change how you think about leverage, optionality, and risk.

 Next Steps for Listeners

• Start a 60-day free trial of ResinSmart to benchmark distributor pricing and validate margins
 • Schedule a personalized 2026 distribution strategy conversation with the ResinSmart team

Visit ResinSmart.ai to get started.

Join Michael Workman as he walks through the latest RTi Drivers data and provides actionable insight for resin buyers preparing for 2026.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

PE

• November contracts flat
 • Record inventory declines but still weak fundamentals
 • Increases announced for December/January lack justification

PP

• November down 1¢
 • Inventories at lowest levels of 2025
 • PGP stable in the mid-20s; Q1 tightening expected

PS

• Flat pricing; BZ rebound could pressure January

PVC

• Inventories down again but demand still depressed

ABS, PC, PA6, PA66

• Stable-to-lower pricing
 • Automotive + retail weakness persists

PET

• Flat fundamentals and weak seasonal demand

Final Word: Preparing for 2026

2025 ends with buyers holding meaningful leverage.
 Now is the time to:
 ✔ benchmark your resin pricing
 ✔ challenge non-market adjustments
 ✔ solidify 2026 contract strategy
 ✔ build data-backed negotiation plans

ResinSmart provides the transparency, benchmarking, and forecasting tools processors need to navigate volatile resin markets with confidence.

Start your free trial: https://app.resinsmart.ai/free-trial
Learn more: https://www.ResinSmart.ai

Lowell breaks down the current state of the North American polypropylene market, why pricing is sitting at multi-year lows, and why the industry is heading toward what he calls a “perfect storm” in Q1 of 2026.

You’ll learn:
 🟦 Why PP has been unusually stable for almost two years
 🟦 Why processors pulling back on purchases are masking true demand
 🟦 How producer run rates have dropped from the mid-80s down to 75% (and may hit 70%)
🟦 Why inventories at ~35 days signal a weak but volatile setup
🟦 How PDH outages, cracker turnarounds, and refinery blend changes will collide in Q1
🟦 Why a Gulf Coast freeze could accelerate PGP and PP price spikes
🟦 What ResinSmart data tells us about 3–5¢/lb increases — or more — once Q1 hits
🟦 Why prices may not fall back after those increases
🟦 How processors should prepare now for 2026 negotiations

One of Lowell’s most important messages:

Michael and Lowell close the episode with actionable advice for processors planning their 2026 resin strategy — including whether to pre-buy PP in Q4, how to position contracts for the coming cycle, and how ResinSmart can help buyers benchmark and validate pricing in real time.

From all of us at ResinSmart and RTi Global — Happy Thanksgiving.

Enjoy the holiday, your favorite side dish, and the buyer’s advantage while it lasts. Learn more or request a pricing benchmark at: https://www.resinsmart.ai

This episode covers:

• PE: –410.5M lbs inventory decline but still weak overall sentiment 
• PP: –126.9M lbs inventory drop; PGP in mid-20s; Q1 tightening expected
• PS: Lower feedstocks keep pressure on pricing
• PVC: Slip in inventory doesn’t change soft demand outlook
• ABS & PC: Stable-to-lower as feedstocks fail to support price initiatives
• PA6 & PA66: Downstream demand remains slow; RMC easing
• PET: Seasonal slowdown, flat feedstocks, no Q4 increases

Whether you’re a procurement leader, resin buyer, or supply-chain decision maker, this episode gives you the visibility you need to plan for Q4 and early 2026.

Learn how ResinSmart helps processors benchmark pricing, validate supplier increases, and negotiate with confidence:
https://www.resinsmart.ai

In this Resin Market Moves episode, Michael Workman breaks down:

Market Highlights

Polyethylene (PE):
Huge October draw (–410M lbs) but still long YoY; producer increases unlikely.

Polypropylene (PP):
PGP hovering near 25¢/lb; no margin initiatives; inventories elevated.

Polystyrene (PS):
Down another 2¢; BD and BZ both falling.

ABS / PC:
Oversupplied, weak auto demand, and +10¢ attempts failing.

PVC:
Downward pressure continues; no increases for November.

Nylon (PA66 & PA6):
Stable-to-lower with weak retail and automotive pull.

PET:
Tariff lift fading; PX/PTA easing; fundamentals remain soft.

Key Takeaway

Q4 remains one of the most buyer-friendly windows in years.

With weak demand, soft feedstocks, high inventories, and defensive producer tactics, buyers have real leverage heading into 2026.

ResinSmart gives processors the benchmark data, feedstock models, and C-suite-ready visuals needed to negotiate from strength.

Try ResinSmart free → https://www.ResinSmart.ai

#ResinSmart #ResinMarketMoves #PlasticsMarket #Polyethylene #Polypropylene #PVC #PET #Nylon #ABS #Polycarbonate #ResinPrices #Procurement #Compounding #SupplyChain

Host Brian Balboa sits down with Tyler Wheeler and Greg Eberhardt, senior procurement leaders at ResinSmart powered by RTi, to unpack how resin buyers can move from “cost negotiator” to true business partner in the eyes of the C-suite.

They discuss:

• The difference between transactional and strategic buyers
• How to speak the C-suite’s language: EBITDA, customers, and market share, not just cents per pound
• The “three C’s” of executive communication: clear, concise, correct
• Real-world scenarios: last-minute board questions, “your competitor is paying 25¢/lb” claims, and mid-year budget challenges
• How tools like ResinSmart turn market chaos into executive-ready stories and visuals

Whether you manage $5 million or $500 million in resin spend, you’ll walk away with practical ideas to:

• Build credibility with finance and the board
• Defend your savings even when the P&L doesn’t show it
• Use data and visuals to turn resin market moves into strategic decisions

🔗 Learn more & start a 60-day free trial: ResinSmart.ai  

In this week’s Resin Market Moves, Michael breaks down what’s happening across North America’s resin markets and what it means for buyers planning year-end negotiations and 2026 budgets.
 
Resin Market Highlights

Polyethylene (PE):
Flat in October; producers testing another +3¢/lb for November, but fundamentals say “not likely.” Inventories remain long and exports soft.
Polypropylene (PP):
October contracts fell 4¢/lb as PGP hit three-year lows. Market near cycle bottom.
Polystyrene (PS):
Down 2¢/lb in October; weak benzene and BD keep downward pressure.
ABS & Polycarbonate (PC):
Still stable-to-soft. Proposed +10¢/lb increases for November lack support.
PVC:
Down 2¢ in October; no proposed hikes for November amid soft construction demand.
Nylon (PA6 & PA66):
Stable to lower. Feedstocks down again; automotive demand sluggish.
PET:
Up slightly in October from tariffs, but tariffs aside, fundamentals remain weak and prices should ease again in November.

Key Takeaway
The market’s flat — but not quiet.
Buyers with real data have leverage, while producers are left waiting for justification that isn’t there.

ResinSmart helps processors, OEMs, and brand owners see what’s real — benchmarking contract and spot resin prices against actual market transactions so you can negotiate with confidence.

Learn more at https://www.ResinSmart.ai

Together they explore:

• Why the best resin buyers build relationships instead of relying on RFPs
• How trust, transparency, and negotiation psychology drive real savings
• The challenges of “data overload” — and how to know which signals actually matter
• How sustainability and regulation (EPR, bioplastics, recycling) are reshaping resin strategy

From supplier “PIA taxes” to benchmark data, this is a candid, funny, and insightful talk between three pros who’ve lived the resin market from multiple angles.

Subscribe on Transistor, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts to catch every new episode of Resin Market Brief – Powered by ResinSmart 

 In the resin market — like every commodity cycle before it — price resistance without justification never lasts.

This week, Michael breaks down why producers’ attempted increases across PE, PP, PS, PVC, ABS, PC, and PET don’t align with the data — and how buyers can use transparency to push back with confidence.

Highlights:
• PE: Proposed +3¢/lb for November lacks merit.
• PP: Feedstock PGP lowest since 2022.
• PS & ABS: Weak feedstocks, falling demand.
• PVC: Still sliding amid soft housing.
• PET: Tariff-driven bumps fading fast.

Key Takeaway:
History rewards those who push back with facts.

Highlights
• Polyethylene draw of 336M lbs but still +400M YoY – demand soft.
• Polypropylene contracts tracking –4 to –5¢ as PGP costs collapse.
• Polystyrene, ABS, PC, PVC – stable to lower pricing.
• PET still flat with weak demand and feedstock declines.

Key Takeaway: Buyers remain in the driver’s seat as suppliers destock before year-end. Now’s the time to benchmark your pricing and capture margin back.

Learn more and start your free trial at 👉 https://www.ResinSmart.ai

Resin Market Highlights:

Polyethylene (PE):
• Inventories down ~336M lbs in September — a meaningful draw, but the market is still long.
• Producer price-increase attempts continue to face resistance.

Polypropylene (PP):
• Feedstock PGP hit its lowest level since 2022.
• Weak fundamentals cap upside; buyers retain leverage.

Polystyrene (PS):
• Sliding again on softer benzene and styrene.
• Contracts remain under pressure.

PVC:
• Soft housing and construction keep prices subdued.
• High inventories limit any near-term rebound.

ABS & Polycarbonate (PC):
• Stable to slightly soft; demand pockets not enough to move pricing.

PET:
• Producers are testing +6–9¢/lb hikes, but current fundamentals don’t support them.

Key Takeaway:
Too much resin, not enough demand. With inventories still heavy and feedstocks easing, buyers are winning the Q4 market.

If you’re pushing back on supplier pricing, ResinSmart helps you see through the noise and negotiate with confidence — real-time benchmarking, forecasting, and market transparency for processors who are tired of guessing.

Learn more or request a benchmark demo: https://www.ResinSmart.ai

Follow Michael Workman on LinkedIn for weekly Resin Market Moves updates.
Travel safe, everyone — Chicago next!

In this week’s Resin Market Moves, Michael breaks down what’s really happening across the major resin families — and what it means for buyers trying to hold the line on costs.

Resin Market Highlights:

Polyethylene (PE):
Dow, ExxonMobil, and CP Chem reported short-lived production issues, but inventories remain near record highs.
October’s proposed +3–5¢/lb increases? Still unlikely to stick.

Polypropylene (PP):
Feedstock propylene (PGP) crashed below $0.25/lb, the lowest since 2022.
No margin increases announced — weak fundamentals continue.

Polystyrene (PS):
Feedstocks fell sharply, with benzene down nearly $0.50/gal, pushing PS contracts lower again.

ABS & Polycarbonate (PC):
Stable to slightly soft. Auto sector improving, but not enough to move pricing.
Sabic’s +10¢ ABS increase for November faces buyer resistance.

PVC:
Still sluggish. Construction remains slow, with high inventories and no October increase nominations.

PET:
Flat for September and early October, though producers continue testing +6–9¢/lb increases. Market data doesn’t support it.

Key Takeaway:

Feedstocks are easing. Inventories are heavy.
 And producer price-increase letters are running on fumes.

Now is the time for buyers to stay disciplined, benchmark their pricing, and push back with confidence.

That’s what ResinSmart was built for — real-time resin benchmarking, forecasting, and market transparency for processors who are tired of guessing.

Learn more or request a benchmark demo: https://www.ResinSmart.ai
Follow Michael Workman on LinkedIn for weekly Resin Market Moves updates.

In this short video, Michael breaks down what’s happening across key resin families — and what buyers need to know heading into year-end negotiations:

🔹 Polyethylene (PE): Flat in September, inventories up +243 million lbs. Producers pushing +3–5¢ for October, but demand won’t support it.
🔹 Polypropylene (PP): Rolled flat. Propylene feedstock below 30¢/lb — lowest since 2022.
🔹 Polystyrene (PS): Down ~2¢/lb as benzene and butadiene soften.
🔹 ABS & Polycarbonate (PC): Stable to slightly soft — auto improving, but not enough to lift demand.
🔹 PVC: Down another 2¢/lb, with housing starts and construction demand lagging.
🔹 PET: Flat for September — producers testing +6–9¢ increases on tariff and logistics pressure.

The big picture:
Feedstocks are weaker, inventories are high, and producers’ increase letters lack market justification.

What this means for buyers:
Stay disciplined. Benchmark your resin costs. Push back where pricing doesn’t align with the data.

That’s exactly what ResinSmart was built for — to give resin buyers clarity, confidence, and control.

Learn more at https://www.ResinSmart.ai and subscribe for weekly Resin Market Moves updates.

In this week’s Resin Market Moves (Sept 26, 2025), Michael Workman of ResinSmart breaks down the latest market drivers:

Key Insights:

• PE: Inventories +1.2B lbs YoY; +5¢/+3–5¢ nominations lack support
• PP: Flat as PGP rolled at 35.5¢; 40 days of supply on hand
• PS: Lower after September benzene contract
• ABS & PC: Flat; long supply and weaker RMC
• PVC: Inventories at 1B lbs; one producer still chasing +3¢
• Nylon & PET: Flat; PET producers push +6–9¢ in October despite lower PX/PTA

Takeaway: Fundamentals remain weak-to-flat. Buyers should benchmark every ask, reject unsupported hikes, and use data to negotiate better terms.

Resin Market Moves breaks down the latest shifts in PE, PP, and engineered resin markets—covering price movement, supply/demand trends, inventory levels, and what it all means for your next buy. Get fast, actionable insights to help you negotiate smarter and stay ahead of volatility.

Benchmark your portfolio against 3B+ lbs of verified resin data with ResinSmart: www.resinsmart.ai

Follow us on LinkedIn

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Suppliers are nominating increases for September — but the data across PE, PP, PS, PVC, PET, ABS, PC, and Nylon tells a different story. Inventories are high, demand is soft, and feedstocks are easing.

***

Resin Market Moves breaks down the latest shifts in PE, PP, and engineered resin markets—covering price movement, supply/demand trends, inventory levels, and what it all means for your next buy. Get fast, actionable insights to help you negotiate smarter and stay ahead of volatility.

Learn more at www.resinsmart.ai

Follow us on LinkedIn

Watch episodes on YouTube

***

Resin Market Moves breaks down the latest shifts in PE, PP, and engineered resin markets—covering price movement, supply/demand trends, inventory levels, and what it all means for your next buy. Get fast, actionable insights to help you negotiate smarter and stay ahead of volatility.

Learn more at www.resinsmart.ai

Follow us on LinkedIn

Watch episodes on YouTube

Learn more at www.resinsmart.ai

Follow us on LinkedIn

Watch episodes on YouTube

Learn more at www.resinsmart.ai

Follow us on LinkedIn

Watch episodes on YouTube