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Flexible Packaging
December 2023
Flexible packaging resins such as LDPE and LLDPE were mostly flat in North America after moving higher in Q3.  Latin America L/LLDPE resins moved downward in November after rallying earlier in Q4.
LDPE resin was flat in Europe for November but were higher in Asia.
LLDPE moved  higher by more than 1% in Europe and China for November but declined Southeast Asia.

OPP and PET Films were stable in November in Europe and North America but moved up by more than 1% in China for November.
 
EVOH and Nylon were flat in November.  We update our price assessments on these items quarterly in the first month of the calendar quarter.

Aluminum Foil declined by 1% in North America and was down fractionally in China.
 
Highlights from the Pack Trax 2024 Packaging Material Cost Forecast Update / June 2023

We believe raw material inputs will be relatively benign through the balance of 2023 with the exception of potential storm related supply and cost issues.  Demand will pick up by Q2 2024 as global economies begin to shake off recessionary fears

Paper prices have softened in all markets as pulp prices have been weak.  Pulp appears to be stabilizing in August.


PET and OPP film prices have weakened on tepid demand in packaging and lower input costs.

Aluminum foil has been soft so far in 2023 but there are signs this may be changing.  China's economic conditions are the most dominant current factor. 

EVOH and Nylon prices have softened in 2023.

Ink input costs have softened and our Ink Index has moved downward since Q4 of 2022.

Price Tracker
Price Tracker provides subscribers with a six to seven year price history for all materials for North America, Europe and Asia.  We continue to add materials all the time.  We recently added a price set for Southeast Asia as well as rPET Flake and Pellets for Europe and North America.  This data is provided in spreadsheet format so you can build charts and presentations.

Price Tracker is an indispensable tool for managing supplier packaging price changes based on raw material input costs.