What is Polypropylene Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and Packaging Demand
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
Neutral
Bearish
What's driving sentiment this week:
Latest published month (2026-07) — Sentiment: Bullish
The most recent published customs observation for HS 390210 is 2026-07 at USD 1,663.79/ton, -10.9% against the previous month and +14.3% against 2025-08.
Reported volume across the fixed 10-economy panel was 2,902,412 tonnes over the window, 241,868 tonnes a month on average, and the three-month trend is +24.3%.
Next 1–3 Months — Outlook
This page is refreshed from public customs statistics rather than paid price assessments, so the next revision will roll in each newly published month for HS 390210. Direction shown here is a reading of published customs unit values, not a forecast.
Key Market Impact
Customs unit values for this heading are the single most checkable price signal available without a subscription: they combine the product mix actually crossing borders, the average contract level behind those shipments and freight-relevant volume. Treat them as the trade-weighted baseline for the heading, and read the coverage note above before applying them to a single grade.
How About the Price?
Data source: UN Comtrade public trade statistics (https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202607&cmdCode=390210&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true) | Last updated: 2026-11-06
Price Trajectory, latest 12 months (2025-08 to 2026-07)
The monthly customs export unit value for HS 390210 moved from USD 1,455.71/ton in 2025-08 to USD 1,663.79/ton in 2026-07 (+14.3% across the window). The window high was USD 1,914.45/ton in 2026-05 and the low USD 1,264.09/ton in 2025-12. Three-month averages put the latest quarter +24.3% against the previous one, which is classified here as bullish.
The same panel reported USD 4,404.6 million of export value on 2,902,412 tonnes over the twelve months, an average of 241,868 tonnes a month. Values are customs returns for the stated HS heading, so they capture the traded mix of that heading rather than a single quoted grade.
The EU side of the same heading is one month fresher than the panel above: Eurostat Comext records EU27 imports of HS 390210 from outside the EU at USD 1,643.94/ton in 2026-08 (EUR 1,418.03/ton at the ECB monthly reference rate), +0.6% against 2026-07, on 124,047 tonnes; the twelve months to 2026-08 totalled 1,624,707 tonnes. On the 12 months the two datasets share (2025-08 to 2026-07), three-month blocks that far apart moved +23.2% on the export panel and +30.2% on the EU import side, so the two agree on direction. Import values are recorded on a CIF-type basis by a single bloc, so the level is not comparable with the export panel — the comparison above is directional.
2026-08 is deliberately not in the series: of the 10 economies that make up this page's fixed panel, 7 had filed both value and net weight for this heading when the page was rebuilt on 2026-11-06 (the heading drew 18 filers in total that month); neither 2026-09 nor 2026-10 drew a single filing for this heading. Splicing a partly-filed month onto a fixed panel would move the unit value through composition alone, so the window stays at 2026-07 until the whole panel for 2026-08 has reported.
HS 390210 covers polypropylene homo- and random polymers in primary forms; propylene copolymers are classified in 390230 and are outside this series, so the unit value tracks the homopolymer/random grade mix rather than the full PP slate.
Supply-side factors
- Fixed reporting panel of 10 economies: BRA (76), FIN (246), DEU (276), GTM (320), HUN (348), MEX (484), NLD (528), PRT (620), SWE (752), USA (842). The panel is held constant in every month of the window so month-to-month movement is not a composition effect.
- Monthly unit value range over the window: USD 1,264.09 to USD 1,914.45/ton.
- Latest month, 2026-07: USD 1,663.79/ton, -10.9% against the previous month, on 252,194 tonnes.
Demand-side factors
- Polypropylene demand is carried by packaging film, woven sacks, injection-moulded parts and automotive compounds, with fibre and non-woven outlets taking the balance, so offtake follows converter run rates and competes directly with polyethylene for the same flexible-packaging lines.
- Related market pages on this site: Propylene (the monomer), Propane (the PDH feedstock behind on-purpose propylene), Polyethylene (the competing commodity polyolefin), Propylene Oxide (a competing outlet for the same polymer-grade propylene), Acrylonitrile (the other propylene derivative competing for the same molecule).
Basis: these are customs unit values for the stated HS heading, not quoted spot, contract or assessed prices, and no paid price assessment is used or redistributed on this page. Every figure can be re-checked at the API links listed at the end of this page.
Need the supplier landscape, contract structure or a delivered-cost build-up behind this heading? Request a sample report or a custom cut.
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) | Replaces PP in rigid packaging (bottles, containers, crates), pipes, and caps/closures where slightly lower stiffness is acceptable. HDPE offers better low-temperature impact resistance and is often a drop-in substitute in blow-molding and injection-molding applications. Preferred over PP when service temperatures are below -10°C. |
| Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) | Substitutes for PP in automotive interior trim, appliance housings, and consumer electronics where higher surface gloss, better dimensional stability, and superior paintability are required. Requires reformulation of part design due to higher density and different processing parameters; not a drop-in replacement. |
| Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) | Replaces PP in transparent rigid packaging (bottles, trays, clamshells) and food containers where superior clarity, gas barrier properties, and higher heat resistance are needed. PET is the dominant substitute in carbonated beverage bottles and ovenable food trays. Requires different processing equipment (stretch blow molding vs. injection molding). |
| Polyamide (Nylon, PA6 / PA66) | Substitutes for PP in engineering applications such as automotive under-hood components, gears, bearings, and structural parts where higher continuous-use temperature (up to 120–150°C), better wear resistance, and superior mechanical strength are required. Partial replacement in glass-fiber-reinforced grades; significantly higher cost than PP. |
| Polystyrene (PS) / Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) | Replaces PP in disposable food service items (cups, cutlery, trays), packaging foam, and CD cases where lower cost or specific optical clarity (crystal PS) is prioritized. EPS substitutes for PP foam in insulation and protective packaging. Largely a drop-in substitution in thermoforming applications, though PS has lower chemical resistance. |
| Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) | Substitutes for PP in pipes, fittings, window profiles, flooring, and wire insulation where flame retardancy, rigidity, and weatherability are critical. PVC is preferred in construction applications. Requires different processing (PVC needs plasticizers and stabilizers); not a drop-in replacement but competes directly in pipe and profile markets. |
| Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE / TPO) | Replaces PP-based impact copolymers and PP/rubber blends in soft-touch automotive parts, flexible packaging, and medical tubing where rubber-like elasticity combined with thermoplastic processability is needed. TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) is essentially a PP-based blend and can be a near-drop-in substitute in automotive fascias and roofing membranes. |
| Bio-based / Recycled PP (rPP) | Drop-in substitute for virgin PP in packaging, automotive, and consumer goods applications where sustainability requirements or regulations mandate recycled content. Recycled PP requires sorting, cleaning, and re-compounding; mechanical properties may be slightly reduced. Bio-based PP (from bio-propylene via fermentation routes) is chemically identical and a true drop-in replacement, though currently limited in commercial scale. |
| Polylactic Acid (PLA) | Replaces PP in single-use packaging, disposable cutlery, and short-life consumer products where compostability or bio-based content is required by regulation or brand policy. PLA is more brittle and has lower heat resistance than PP; substitution requires redesign of parts and is not a drop-in replacement. Primarily relevant in food packaging and agricultural films. |
Related PetroApex Market Pages
- Propylene
- Propylene Feedstock Gas
- Polyethylene
- Propylene Oxide — a competing outlet for the same polymer-grade propylene.
- Acrylonitrile — the other propylene derivative competing for the same molecule.
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | Standards of Performance for Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Manufacture of High-Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and Polystyrene Resins | US EPA | 1983 (CTG; NSPS referenced for new/modified/reconstructed facilities) | Limits VOC emissions from process vents, equipment leaks, and storage in polypropylene resin production plants | US EPA (https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/polymer-manufacturing-industry-standards-performance-volatile) |
| US | OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard | US OSHA | 1992 (29 CFR 1910.119) | Requires process hazard analysis, operating procedures, and emergency planning for petrochemical facilities handling hazardous materials | US OSHA (https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.119) |
| EU | Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 REACH | European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) | 2006 (ongoing) | Registration of substances >1 tonne/year; polymers exempt from full registration but subject to notification | European Chemicals Agency (https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/reach) |
| EU | Regulation (EU) 2019/904 Single-Use Plastics Directive | European Commission | 2019 (phased implementation 2021–2025) | Bans or limits certain single-use plastics including cups, plates, and oxo-degradable plastics; no specific threshold for polypropylene but applies to plastic packaging | European Commission (https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/plastics/single-use-plastics_en) |
| China | Prohibition of Foreign Garbage Imports (National Sword policy) | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) | 2017 (effective January 2021) | Ban on import of post-consumer plastic waste (no quantitative quota for virgin PP resins) | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China) (via notifications and enforcement reports) |
| US-China | Tariffs on Chinese imports (tariff lines for plastic resins) | US International Trade Commission / Customs | 2018 (Section 232 / ongoing) | 25% tariffs on certain Chinese plastic imports (specific to HS codes for polypropylene resins) | US International Trade Commission (reports on China tariffs) |
| EU-Middle East | Anti-dumping measures on chemicals (general petrochemical context; no specific PP resin duties identified) | European Commission | 2025 (examples on related chemicals) | Duties of 17–33% on dumped imports (specific to epoxy resins; PP resins not directly targeted in recent filings) | European Commission (https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-acts-against-unfairly-traded-epoxy-resins-china-taiwan-and-thailand-2025-07-28_en) |
| International | UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (IMDG Code) | International Maritime Organization (via UN) | 2016 (latest amendments) | Polypropylene not classified as dangerous good; no UN number or hazard class assigned | UN Model Regulations / IMDG Code |
| US | Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory | US EPA | 1976 (ongoing; polypropylene exempt from CDR reporting) | Listed on active TSCA Inventory; no premanufacture notice required for existing polypropylene | US EPA (https://www.epa.gov/tsca) |
Key Influence Events
Polypropylene (PP) is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer produced by the addition polymerization of propylene monomer (CH2=CHCH3) using Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalysts. It is one of the world's most widely produced commodity plastics, valued for its combination of low density (0.90–0.91 g/cm³), good chemical resistance, high stiffness-to-weight ratio, excellent fatigue resistance, and relatively low cost. PP exists in three main tacticity forms—isotactic (iPP, the dominant commercial form), syndiotactic (sPP), and atactic (aPP)—each with distinct properties. It is used across a broad range of applications including packaging films and containers, automotive components, textiles and nonwoven fabrics, medical devices, pipes, and consumer goods.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of Polypropylene Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and Packaging Demand
Polypropylene (PP) is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer produced by the addition polymerization of propylene monomer (CH2=CHCH3) using Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalysts. It is one of the world's most widely produced commodity plastics, valued for its combination of low density (0.90–0.91 g/cm³), good chemical resistance, high stiffness-to-weight ratio, excellent fatigue resistance, and relatively low cost. PP exists in three main tacticity forms—isotactic (iPP, the dominant commercial form), syndiotactic (sPP), and atactic (aPP)—each with distinct properties. It is used across a broad range of applications including packaging films and containers, automotive components, textiles and nonwoven fabrics, medical devices, pipes, and consumer goods.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade / Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Grade | Homopolymer (hPP) | — | Injection molding, fibers, BOPP film |
| Commercial Grade | Random Copolymer (rPP) | — | Transparent packaging, medical |
| Commercial Grade | Impact / Heterophasic Copolymer (ICP) | — | Automotive, appliances, tough parts |
| Commercial Grade | Metallocene PP (mPP) | — | Specialty films, soft nonwovens |
| Commercial Grade | Long-chain branched PP (LCB-PP) | — | Foam, thermoforming |
Data Sources
Price and volume figures are derived from the directly verified public sources below. The customs unit values are USD/ton and are not subscription price assessments. Grade-level specifications are not restated here: confirm them with the supplier. Every monthly endpoint used for the series on this page is listed below, together with the EU cross-check, the exchange rate used to express it in dollars and the HS classification reference.
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202508&cmdCode=390210&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202509&cmdCode=390210&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202510&cmdCode=390210&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202511&cmdCode=390210&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202512&cmdCode=390210&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202601&cmdCode=390210&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202602&cmdCode=390210&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202603&cmdCode=390210&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202604&cmdCode=390210&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202605&cmdCode=390210&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202606&cmdCode=390210&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202607&cmdCode=390210&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/comext/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/DS-045409?format=JSON&freq=M&reporter=EU27_2020&partner=EXT_EU27_2020&flow=1&indicators=VALUE_IN_EUROS&indicators=QUANTITY_IN_100KG&product=390210&sinceTimePeriod=2025-08
- https://data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/data/EXR/M.USD.EUR.SP00.A?format=csvdata&startPeriod=2025-08&endPeriod=2026-10
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/files/v1/app/reference/HS.json
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