The Plastic Resin Buyer Brief

ResinSmart
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If you buy plastic resin for a living, this podcast is your edge. Hosted by the experts behind ResinSmart, The Plastic Resin Buyer Brief gives you fast, focused updates on the market forces moving resin prices—and the strategies that smart buyers are using to save money, reduce risk, and make better decisions. No fluff. No filler. Just the information you actually need—delivered by sourcing pros who’ve managed billions in resin spend. Subscribe now to stay ahead of the curve in polyethylene, polypropylene, and beyond. Learn more: www.resinsmart.ai Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/resin-technology-inc Watch episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@RTiGetResinSmart

  1. 2d ago

    Everyone Watched the Crude Spike. The Aftershock Already Hit Five Resins.

    WTI crude surged over 5% last week, peaked just shy of $84 a barrel on Strait of Hormuz shipping disruptions, then pulled back to $81 by Thursday. The reversal was real. But the August benzene contract had already settled before the relief came. For polystyrene, ABS, polycarbonate, PA66, and PA6 buyers, the aftershock landed mid-week and it doesn't go backwards because crude came off its highs. In this episode, Michael Workman walks through every major resin market — where supply is long and leverage is real, where the benzene settlement changed the cost picture, and the one active price increase in the market right now and why caprolactam is the data point every PA6 buyer needs before responding to anything. What's covered this episode: The crude oil and benzene story — WTI peaked just shy of $84/bbl on Strait of Hormuz disruptions before pulling back to $81 by Thursday on weak demand data and a large U.S. domestic stockpile build. Why the partial crude reversal didn't undo the August benzene settlement — and what that means for buyers in benzene-linked resins. The two-track market — PE, PP, PVC, and PET buyers remain in a supply-long environment with no August price increase initiatives. Benzene-linked resin buyers woke up to a different cost conversation mid-week. PE — ResinSmart is tracking a fourth consecutive monthly inventory build. Producers seeking 5 cents per pound for August to recover a portion of July's 10-cent decline. The supply data doesn't support it. PP — No August initiatives announced. August pricing will follow the PGP settlement. Brief PDH flaring at Invista resolved by week's end — noise, not a signal. PVC — Third consecutive monthly inventory build. No August initiatives. Construction demand still soft. Buyers hold the leverage. PET — No announced increases. PX and PTA costs expected to provide a firmer floor following July's 3-cent decline. Seasonal bottle demand below expectations. Gulf Coast weather remains the watch point through end of summer. PS — Where the aftershock hit hardest. Producers have a cost foundation for 5–11 cents per pound increase initiatives that they didn't have last month. Material availability remains comfortable, so full implementation isn't guaranteed — but the window to use July contract data as the primary reference is now, not later in August. ABS and PC — No announced initiatives despite higher benzene. Higher costs are creating a floor against additional downward movement. Activity expected in Q4. PA66 — Higher benzene partially offset by a lower August butadiene contract. No new initiatives. Mixed feedstock signals point toward status quo near-term. PA6 — The one active increase in the market. One supplier announced 12 cents per pound citing higher benzene and sulfur costs. Caprolactam — the direct PA6 precursor — moved lower this week while benzene moved higher. A producer citing benzene as the cost driver needs to explain the caprolactam direction. That divergence is the buyer's negotiating lever. Key market data referenced: WTI Crude: Peaked just shy of $84/bbl intraweek; settled near $81/bblAugust benzene contract: Settled substantially higher vs. JulyPE: Fourth consecutive monthly inventory build; producer ask of 5¢/lb for AugustPP: No August initiatives; PGP as primary contract driverPVC: Third consecutive monthly inventory build; no August initiativesPA6: One supplier announced 12¢/lb August increaseCaprolactam: Moved lower this week despite benzene gainsEpisode Chapters: [0:00] Open — the crude spike, the pullback, and why the aftershock already landed [0:47] What happened in crude and why the benzene settlement didn't reverse with it [1:11] Two markets running at the same time [1:36] PE, PP, PVC, PET — supply long, leverage real [2:52] PS — where the aftershock hit hardest and what to do this week [3:18] ABS, PC, PA66 — higher benzene creates a floor, not a ceiling [3:43] PA6 — the one active increase and the caprolactam complication [4:34] Bottom line and buyer action framework [5:00] Buyer vs. Seller webinar (August 26) and MAPP Conference (September 29) Upcoming: Buyer vs. Seller — Live Negotiation Session | August 26 | Free | ResinSmart.ai MAPP Benchmarking Conference | September 29 | Live buyer vs. seller session Where to find ResinSmart: ResinSmart.ai | mworkman@resinsmart.ai | 214-984-2977

  2. Aug 10

    August 10, 2026 — Back to School: Two Markets, Two Playbooks, One Closing Window

    The resin market runs on a two-track system right now, and the two tracks are moving in different directions. Michael Workman breaks down where buyers stand on August 10 and exactly what to do about it before the week is over. Commodity resins - polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, PET, nylon 66 - are still operating in summer-favorable conditions. Increase initiatives are out there, but the fundamentals don't support them. The leverage is real and the window is still open, but August is here. Benzene-linked resins - polystyrene, ABS, polycarbonate, nylon 6 - are a different story. August benzene settled higher. Increase letters are live or arriving this week. The pre-announcement window on ABS and PC is the last opportunity to lock concessions before the landscape shifts. In this episode: PE: 5¢/lb increase initiative for August. Supply and demand say no. Contest it.PP: First upward tick since spring at 3¢/lb following PGP. Watch the contract settlement this month as your signal.PVC: No initiatives. Buyers still hold leverage.PET & Nylon 66: Flat to lower. Act on open volume before paraxylene and PTA feedstocks reenter the conversation.Polystyrene: 5–10¢+/lb increases. August benzene is the cost driver and it's real. But supply is still balanced. Contest the magnitude, not the direction. Bring your July settlement data.ABS & PC: No formal initiatives yet, but rumblings are building. The pre-announcement window closes this week. Concessions available today may not be there Monday.Nylon 6: One supplier up 12¢/lb. Caprolactam has been tracking lower week over week. The cost ask overstates actual feedstock movement.Bring the caprolactam data to that conversation. Crude oil wildcard — WTI dropped below $80 as geopolitical tension in the Iran region has calmed somewhat. August benzene has already settled — lower crude limits September's cost story, not August's. Cautious optimism for September is the read. That's not a reason to delay August conversations. The September advantage: Buyers who act now in August enter Q4 with a lower cost position. Feedstock volatility tied to crude oil and Middle East developments could reverse current commodity conditions quickly. The window has a ceiling. ResinSmart | Powered by RTi Global | Since 1998  resinsmart.ai

  3. Aug 3

    August's First Pitch

    PE producers threw the first pitch of August this week — 5 cents per pound in price increase nominations against a market where inventories are above the three-year average, ethylene costs are flat, and July is still expected to settle lower. This episode breaks down where every major resin stands as the August count opens, which materials are sitting in hitter's counts, and why some of those at-bats need to close this week before the bullpen arrives. Topics covered: The first pitch framework: how to read a producer nomination before you respond to itPE: why the 5¢ August ask doesn't have the fundamentals — and what to put in your counterPP: the pitch that caught the corner — PGP settled +3¢/lb and buyers need to respect itThe benzene bullpen: PS, ABS, PC buyers are in hitter's counts right now, but August benzene is warmingPA6: the most urgent at-bat in the lineup — caprolactam fell sharply in July and the window closes when August BZ recoversPVC: days of supply climbed to nearly 20, no nominations, full-count leverage in buyers' handsPET: July lower, August feedstocks expected to firm, Gulf Coast hurricane season is the active supply riskThe discipline that separates Q3 outcomes: working the count versus swinging at the first pitchKey takeaway: Most of this market is still throwing batting practice. The buyers who work the count — who respond to August letters with data instead of acceptance — will achieve materially different outcomes than the ones who swung at the first pitch.

  4. Jul 30

    Plastics News Info Session | How Resin Buyers Can Regain Negotiating Leverage

    The resin market has long favored suppliers, but it doesn't have to stay that way. In this Plastics News info session, Michael Workman, Bill Bowie and Tyler Wheeler explain why resin buyers often negotiate with incomplete information, how to separate true feedstock costs from supplier margin, and the practical strategies procurement teams are using to regain leverage. Listen to learn how leading buyers are shifting from reactive purchasing to proactive, data-driven negotiations that produce better outcomes. Subscribe to the Resin Market Moves newsletter for weekly market intelligence: https://resinsmart.ai/subscribe Learn more about ResinSmart: https://resinsmart.ai

  5. Jul 27

    The Flags Don't Lie | Resin Market Moves | July 24, 2026

    This week's episode covers all nine major resin markets under one organizing theme: what the flags are reading, and whether buyers trust them enough to act. The answer depends on which market you're in. PE, PP, PVC, and PET are flying green flags — leverage is clear, fundamentals are aligned, and the data is telling you to negotiate aggressively now. For PS, ABS, PC, PA66, and PA6, the flag has turned yellow. July conditions remain favorable — the July benzene contract settled lower and is working through pricing as we speak. But crude oil surged more than $13 per barrel on Middle East military conflict, benzene spot has been firming for three straight weeks, and Tropical Storm Bertha is tracking the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. If those conditions hold, August benzene reflects them — and five resin markets shift from Q3 tailwind to Q4 uncertainty. The July window is still open. The flags are telling you it won't stay this width for the rest of the quarter.   Show Notes This week's episode covers the resin market sweep for the week of July 24, 2026 — PE, PP, PS, ABS, PC, PVC, PA66, PA6, and PET. Market context this week: Crude oil: WTI surged to $92.19/bbl, Brent crossed $100, driven by escalating Middle East military conflict and serious threats to energy shipping lanes. The move is the primary driver behind firming benzene spot and the emerging August uncertainty in benzene-linked resins. Tropical Storm Bertha: Second named storm of the 2026 hurricane season, tracking toward the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. No supply disruptions have been reported, but market attention is on potential impacts to feedstock production assets. Hurricane season is typically most active August through October, with Gulf Coast PET and petrochemical assets the key watch point. Benzene spot: Firmed for the third consecutive week, reaching $4.93/gal. The July benzene contract has already settled — so this week's spot movement does not affect July pricing. It affects the August contract settlement, which is determined by where benzene spot is trading right now. Per-resin summary: PE: July contracts expected to settle down at least 10 cents per pound following June's 15-cent decline. One producer announced a 5-cent August price increase initiative. ResinSmart is tracking no supply-demand conditions that support the initiative materializing at current fundamentals. PP: PGP eased slightly to 44 cents per pound from the mid-40-cent range. No July price increase initiatives announced despite elevated feedstock costs — a demand signal. Heartland's Canadian PP facility resumed operations after an extended outage; Phillips 66 Bayway refinery turnaround ongoing. PS: July expected to decline at least 6 cents per pound on lower July benzene contract settlement. Benzene spot firming creates genuine August uncertainty. July discount is real — use it before the spot move becomes the supplier's opening argument next month. ABS: Fundamentals balanced, material available, no July initiatives. July feedstock settlements favorable and working through pricing. Same benzene spot exposure as PS for August. US retail sales +0.6% in June — modest demand encouragement, but manufacturing conditions broadly mixed. PC: Stable, balanced, no producer initiatives. Benzene spot firmed this week, but propylene held flat — suggesting market is pricing weather risk premium rather than a fundamental supply disruption. Europe and China both pointing lower in July — global context constructive. PVC: Supply outpacing demand. No July initiatives. Builder confidence registered at 34 in July, the fifteenth consecutive month below 40 — longest stretch since 2012. Housing starts rebounded in June, led by multifamily, but current supply positions remain more than sufficient to offset any pricing support from construction activity. PA66: Balanced, no initiatives, material availability healthy. Benzene elevated and butadiene flat at 47 cents. Buyers should contest any rolled-over pricing with July feedstock contract data. PA6: Caprolactam dropped sharply to $1,720.67/mt from $1,856.99 — a significant move driven by lower July benzene contract costs. The July cost structure for PA6 production has moved meaningfully in buyers' favor. Do not accept June-level pricing without contesting the feedstock math. PET: July PX contract settled 2 cents lower. Seasonal bottle demand supporting order activity but not reversing pricing direction. No August increase initiatives announced. Gulf Coast weather and crude oil trajectory are the primary Q3 risk variables.   Subscribe to the Resin Market Moves newsletter at resinsmart.ai Contact: mworkman@resinsmart.ai | 214-984-2977ResinSmart | Powered by RTi Global | Since 1998

  6. Jul 20

    Two Summer Days for Resin Buyers — Clear Skies in Some Markets, Storm Warnings in Others | July 17, 2026

    Resin buyers are entering the second half of July with two very different market conditions. Polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC and PET continue to favor buyers. Inventory remains elevated, no meaningful July price increases have emerged, and current supply-demand fundamentals continue to support aggressive negotiations. But another group of resins just received a weather advisory.  Rising crude oil prices and strengthening benzene spot markets have created new uncertainty for polystyrene, ABS, polycarbonate, PA66 and PA6. While July contract settlements still provide opportunities for buyers, waiting until August could change the negotiation landscape if feedstock costs continue moving higher. In this episode, Michael Workman delivers the full resin market update for the week of July 17, covering every major material: PE, PP, PS, ABS, PC, PVC, PA66, PA6 and PET, along with practical buyer actions for each market. Topics covered: Why PE, PP, PVC and PET buyers still have leverageHow crude oil and benzene are changing the outlook for five engineering resinsWhy July contract settlements matter more than spot market headlinesProduction outages versus true demand recovery in polypropyleneThe impact of the INEOS Styrolution plant closure on polystyreneHurricane season risks for PET buyers with Gulf Coast exposureProcurement strategies buyers should use before market conditions shiftResin Market Moves publishes every week. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Powered by ResinSmart | Since 1998

  7. Jul 13

    Buyers Are Winning Right Now — But a Geopolitical Wildcard Just Changed the Math | July 10, 2026

    PE settled down 15 cents for June. PP settled down 8.5 cents. No proposed price increases in either market for July. Resin buyers are holding the leverage across most major commodity materials. But a mid-week geopolitical shock just changed the math for a significant portion of the market. The collapse of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire framework pushed crude back above $70 per barrel and sent benzene spot prices sharply higher, landing directly in the August contract trading window. For buyers of ABS, polycarbonate, PA66, PA6, and polystyrene, that development tightens the cost relief window — and shifts the urgency from August to July. In this episode, Michael Workman delivers the full resin market sweep for the week of July 10. Every major material covered: PE, PP, PS, ABS, PC, PVC, PA66, PA6, and PET — with specific buyer actions for each. Topics covered: PE and PP: what's driving the buyer advantage and how to use itThe benzene wildcard: what happened mid-week and why it matters for five resin categoriesINEOS Styrolution's permanent closure of a major North American PS facilityWhy ABS and PC buyers need to act in July, not AugustPVC demand conditions and the housing market dragPET and the hurricane season risk for Q3 Gulf Coast supplyResin Market Moves publishes every week. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Powered by ResinSmart | Since 1998

  8. Jul 6

    Halftime: What Resin Buyers Should Know About H1 2026

    H1 2026 was one of the most active nomination environments in recent memory — north of 90 proposed increases across commodity and engineering resins in a single quarter. The justification was consistent: feedstock costs, supply disruptions, force majeure. Some of that was real. A lot of the ask on top of it wasn't. In this episode, we break down what H1 actually looked like from the buyer's side — what was proposed, what settled, and the gap between them where buyers who had data won. Then we walk through the mid-year review framework that separates the programs entering H2 with leverage from the ones running blind. Topics covered: The H1 nomination wave: scope, patterns, and justification languageCost pressure vs. pricing power — why the distinction matters in every conversationWhere buyers pushed back and won — and why the data made the differenceThe four-question mid-year review frameworkH2 outlook: feedstocks, forward exposure, what Q3 nominations likely look likeWhat to do before the next wave arrivesGuest: Michael Workman, Executive Director, ResinSmart | Powered by RTi Global Register: "Stop Negotiating Blind" — Plastics News Webinar, July 22, 12:30 PM CT https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1768507&tp_key=3e20608168

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If you buy plastic resin for a living, this podcast is your edge. Hosted by the experts behind ResinSmart, The Plastic Resin Buyer Brief gives you fast, focused updates on the market forces moving resin prices—and the strategies that smart buyers are using to save money, reduce risk, and make better decisions. No fluff. No filler. Just the information you actually need—delivered by sourcing pros who’ve managed billions in resin spend. Subscribe now to stay ahead of the curve in polyethylene, polypropylene, and beyond. Learn more: www.resinsmart.ai Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/resin-technology-inc Watch episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@RTiGetResinSmart

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