After a steep, and somewhat surprising increase in PGP prices in the middle of Q1, Propylene prices have since dropped back to the low $.40/lb range in recent weeks. As also reviewed in our recent podcast episode with Kathy Hall (Episode 089 of The View from Jamestown, Podcast Edition), the spike in the middle of Q1 caught some players off-guard, in what has been predicted to be a brief spike. Although contract values remain high for April, the spot market has begun to tail off.

Shipping Rates Drop, Low Q4 Inventories Expected
Ocean shipping rates from China to the U.S. have fallen sharply—down as much as 68% since June—as importers take a more cautious approach in response