Market Knowledge Portal

Plastic

Introduction

This section of the data portal provides a summary of developments in the UK’s recovered plastics market.  The data presented here comes from respected, publicly available and regularly updated sources on the internet.  By following the link(s) above the graphics you can find out more details on the source of the data and visit the sites to access the full data.

The current highlights and trends are:

• European virgin PET prices declined by £55 per tonne between November and December 2011 to £1233 per tonne, £17 per tonne lower than December 2010.  Virgin HDPE prices averaged £1136 per tonne in December 2011, almost £40 per tonne lower compared with November but around £80 per tonne higher than December 2010. Virgin LDPE totalled £1077 per tonne in December 2011, down £50 per tonne from November and £122 per tonne lower than December 2010.

• Recovered clear PET bottle prices declined by £45 per tonne between December 2011 and January 2012 to £270 per tonne, around £10 per tonne lower than January 2011.  Natural HDPE bottle prices rose by £50 per tonne over the same period to £353 per tonne, around £13 per tonne lower than January 2011.

• The UK exported 66kt of recovered plastic in November 2011, down from 74kt in October and down from 77kt in November 2010.

• Plastic packaging reprocessed totalled 157kt in 2011Q3 broadly unchanged from 2011Q2 year earlier levels.

• Plastic PRN prices averaged £5.50 per tonne in January 2012, unchanged from December 2011 but up from £2 per tonne in January 2011.

Virgin plastics prices (Europe)

The monthly index calculation is based on the average monthly market prices of the materials, weighted according to western European consumption volumes.

Jan12_virgin plastic WRAP

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Merchant prices for recovered plastic bottles

The quoted figures are typical prices for a full HGV load of collected (ex-works) material.

Jan12_plastic bottles WRAP

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Merchant prices for recovered plastic film

The quoted figures are typical prices for a full HGV load of collected (ex-works) material.

Jan12_plastic film2 WRAP

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Plastic PRN prices

A PRN applies for one tonne of material and prices shown are monthly averages.  Volume discounts apply, with small purchases attracting higher prices. 

Jan12_plastic PRN WRAP

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Recovered plastic imports and exports

Figures shown are for SITC code 579 – ‘Waste, parings and scrap, of plastics’.

Jan12_plastic trade WRAP

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Plastic packaging recovery and recycling

Figures represent the tonnages of total waste received by UK reprocessors or exporters including the packaging waste element. Data is provided by accredited UK PRN processors and exporters.

Jan12_pack plastic WRAP

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