Weekly PET Bottle Grade Market Update — Week 24, 2025

Market Overview

Between June 9 and June 13, 2025, the global polyester bottle-grade chip market experienced notable price volatility, culminating in a strong rebound towards the weekend. The average price of imported bottle-grade PET chips surged from $775/ton on June 12 to $800/ton on June 13, reflecting tightening supply alongside rising upstream raw material costs.

Crude Oil Price Trends

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East combined with escalations in the Russia-Ukraine conflict continue to underpin elevated geopolitical risk premiums, sustaining upward pressure on crude oil prices.

WTI crude futures climbed from $65.29/barrel on June 9 to $72.98/barrel on June 13, while Brent crude rose from $67.04/barrel to $74.23/barrel over the same period. These sharp increases have significantly impacted the cost base for petrochemical feedstocks, notably PX and MEG, thereby increasing polyester production expenses.

Raw Material Price Movements

Polyester bottle chip prices closely follow the cost dynamics of key raw materials. Domestic PTA prices rose from 4,830 RMB/ton to 5,010 RMB/ton, while MEG spot prices edged up from 4,350 RMB/ton to 4,400 RMB/ton.

On the international front, CFR China PX prices increased from $808/ton to $854/ton, and FOB Korea PX prices climbed from $787/ton to $833/ton, indicating a generally tight PX supply environment despite some uncertainty in downstream demand.

• PX supply remains moderately constrained, with prices primarily influenced by crude oil volatility in the short term.
• PTA market shows marginally weaker supply-demand fundamentals, with prices expected to track raw material cost fluctuations.
• MEG prices continue to be driven by crude oil levels and geopolitical developments, maintaining a cost-driven trend in the near term.

Supply Chain and Production Status

Recent maintenance and operational adjustments at PX and PTA production facilities have limited supply flexibility, exacerbating tightness in feedstock availability. Coupled with rising global energy and logistics costs, these factors have intensified overall production cost pressures, contributing to the upward momentum in polyester bottle chip prices.

Market Outlook and Recommendations

Given the ongoing rise in crude oil and raw material costs and the persistent supply constraints, polyester bottle chip prices are expected to remain firm with potential for further volatility-driven increases. Buyers are advised to monitor market developments closely and optimize procurement and inventory strategies to mitigate cost risks. Producers should focus on strengthening cost management and operational efficiency to navigate the challenges posed by fluctuating input prices.

Data Source: The crude oil, PX, PTA, MEG, and polyester bottle chip price data referenced in this report are sourced from China Chemical Fiber Network (CCF).