Recycled polyester prices have slightly increased two weeks ago, in line with a short-lived rebound of PTA and MEG prices having boosted demand for polyester fibers. PET bottle flake prices are staying stable in China whereas demand foe recycled fibers should not significantly increase in the coming period.
Sales of recycled fibers have been relatively depressed in China after the end of lunar year holidays, in line with current trends of the overall polyester market.
PET bottle flake prices have not really moved over the period, actually slightly dropping in the past two weeks and ending slightly above 6,700 yuan per metric ton.
As a result, re-PSF and re-POY prices have followed the trend of the polyester market, slightly recovering about two weeks ago before stabilizing.
Re-PSF prices have even begun declining in the last days, in line with a nearly negligible drop of virgin PSF prices.
The market is not expected sharply moving in the coming weeks.
Bottle flake prices should stay relatively stable, although available offer has been depressed since January last year by the Chinese ban over imports of plastic waste from foreign countries, clearly targeting European and US products.
Prices of recycled polyester fibers have remained below virgin products, although not very far and therefore limiting the price advantage of Re-PSF and Re-POY.
Marketing trends by Western brands and retailers should increasingly push up the use of these recycled fibers in order to seduce new generations of consumers.
New technologies are emerging which could trigger a radical change in the way recycled polyester is produced.
Source: Emergingtextiles
