Firm but Uneven Pricing
The broad pricing picture into mid-2026 is best described as firm but uneven. Olefins and aromatics remain sensitive to feedstock and logistics shocks, while polymers continue to inherit those swings.
Category-Specific Strategies Needed
Some markets like caustic soda are comparatively stable, while others like PVC and methanol are more exposed to freight costs and outage risk. Buyers need category-specific strategies.
Key Watch Items
The most important watch items are crude and naphtha direction, Middle East shipping risk, fertilizer seasonal restocking, and maintenance-driven outages in the olefins chain.