[Market Overview]
On July 16, 2026, WTI August 2026 contract settled at $78.95/bbl, down $0.65/bbl (0.82%) from the previous trading day; Brent September 2026 contract settled at $84.23/bbl, down $0.72/bbl (0.85%). NYMEX natural gas August futures settled at $2.858/MMBtu, down 2.26%, as eastern regional gas demand failed to meet market expectations amid temperature effects.
[Recycled Plastics Market]
This week, the recycled HDPE market saw a slight improvement in inquiries with prices stabilizing. As of July 16, Shanghai washed缠绕膜 and平板膜 Grade-1 film mainstream transactions were 3,400-3,500 CNY/ton, flat on the week but down 400 CNY/ton YoY; Shandong EVA pellets mainstream was 5,050-5,300 CNY/ton, flat on the week but down 725 CNY/ton YoY; Hebei HD white transparent Grade-1 pellets were 5,800-6,000 CNY/ton, flat on the week but down 150 CNY/ton YoY.
[Commodity Plastics Market]
According to SCI99 data, PE prices fell during June's off-peak season, with July prices expected to continue declining. PVC powder market showed slight upward oscillation but spot trading remained average. Recycled PE prices stabilized after declining, with the spread between virgin and recycled materials narrowing.
[Outlook]
In the short term, falling international crude oil prices have weakened cost support for plastics, and sluggish off-season demand continues to weigh on PE and PP prices. Recycled plastics are trading on rigid demand, with traders adopting a wait-and-see approach. The market is expected to remain in a僵持 consolidation pattern.
