It was a stable market this week, but there is a differing picture with paper and plastic grades.
With paper, OCC continues to creep down, and this may eventually put pressure on mixed too.
For plastics, most grades were stable, with the exception of PET bottles that increased again. Much of the market is waiting for the next set of NPWD data to see how the PRN/PERN reacts before setting prices for packaging grades.
In metals, only a couple of grades changed in value.
The pound was down a little at $1.30 from $1.31 last week against the dollar. But against the euro it surged to €1.20 from €1.18 last week.
Recycled plastics
Recent weeks had seen huge increases in price with HDPE bottles and LDPE film gaining £100 per tonne since 25 February up to last week, and PET bottles increasing by £60 per tonne. While the former remained stable this week, PET bottles were up by another £40 to also match this £100 increase since late February.
The PRN/PERN remains of interest for packaging grades. Last Friday afternoon (after publication of this report), the plastic PRN/PERN price briefly rose from around £135 per tonne by around £40, but then dropped back to the same level, where it has largely been this week.
Many in the market are waiting for the next set of monthly NPWD data before deciding where the price will be for the certificate. In the meantime, that has meant a stable PRN/PERN price is matched by a stable physical price for packaging grades.
Forecast prices
| 1-week | 4-week | |
| PET | 575-581 | 573-579 |
| HDPE | 858-864 | 864-870 |
| LDPE 98/2 | 590-596 | 594-600 |
Recycled paper
OCC came down again this week, with most transactions happening either side of £150 per tonne. Since 18 March, the value of OCC has come down by £15 per tonne.
UK domestic demand for OCC isn’t as strong as it was, plus India seems to have stepped out – boosted by it now being able to buy from the European market again. South East Asia was also not as interested.
It also seems that some mills are now deciding they are well stocked enough to be able to wait and see how far the price comes down.
This isn’t the case for mixed though, with the price largely stable since reaching its current level on 25 February. With the spread between OCC and mixed now at £30 per tonne, the question is at what point does OCC coming down put pressure on mixed if the former keeps easing lower?
Forecast prices
| 1-week | 4-week | |
| OCC | 147-151 | 145-149 |
| ONP | 148-152 | 148-152 |
| Mixed | 118-122 | 115-119 |
Recycled metals
Brass grades were up £50 per tonne, but ferrous dropped by £10 per tonne, in an otherwise stable week.
Recycling prices
For recycled paper prices, click here
For recycled plastic prices, click here
For recycled metal prices, click here
For recycled glass prices, click here
For PRN/PERN prices, click here
