News and Insights

North American polystyrene processors have spent years hearing that the market has too much capacity. That remains an important part of the price story. It is no longer the whole supply story. On June 18, INEOS Styrolution announced that it would permanently close its Channahon, Illinois, polystyrene site, with shutdown and decommissioning expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. The company puts the site’s annual capacity at approximately 400,000 metric tons.

Water infrastructure is an obvious growth market for PVC pipe and fittings. EPA's 2026 water-infrastructure funding continues to move federal money through the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds, supporting projects that address aging systems, small-community needs and contaminants such as lead and PFAS.

North American plastics processors have learned to watch the Atlantic whenever hurricane season approaches. A storm entering the Gulf of Mexico can interrupt feedstock production, resin plants, rail service and ports within days. This year, however, the more consequential weather story may be developing thousands of miles away in the tropical Pacific. NOAA's September 10 ENSO discussion said El Niño has strengthened over the past month and placed the probability of a very strong event during fall and winter 2026-27 above 90%. NOAA also estimated a 75% chance that the October-December event could exceed the strength of any El Niño measured since 1950.

North America recovered more PET thermoforms than ever in 2024. Yet PET thermoform processors bought less postconsumer resin. That may be the clearest sign yet that collecting more trays and clamshells is only one part of closing the loop.

PVC is rarely just PVC. A finished pipe, profile, cable jacket, flooring layer, roofing membrane or flexible medical component may contain stabilizers, plasticizers, impact modifiers, processing aids, pigments, fillers and other functional ingredients. That versatility is one of PVC's strengths. It also means that regulatory risk can enter through several doors.

North American PET processors are being pulled in two directions at once. Customers and state laws are asking for more recycled content. At the same time, the regional system that collects and reclaims PET is under financial pressure, while imported rPET is taking a larger share of supply.