Styrene Archives - Ningbo Chaoho Plastic Co.

Polystyrene (PS) prices are affected by a combination of factors, as follows:

Raw material price fluctuations::
- crude oil price: Crude oil is the basic raw material for the production of styrene, which in turn is the key monomer for the synthesis of polystyrene. Therefore, changes in crude oil prices have a significant impact on the price of polystyrene. When the crude oil price rises, the cost of styrene production increases, which in turn drives up the price of polystyrene. For example, when crude oil supply is unstable due to international tensions, crude oil price rises sharply, the cost pressure of styrene producers increases sharply, and the market price of polystyrene also rises. Typically, for every US$10/barrel increase in oil prices, the cost of styrene increases by about RMB 400/tonne, which is directly transferred to the price of XPS.
- Styrene pricesAs the direct raw material for polystyrene production, styrene price fluctuation is highly correlated with the price of polystyrene. 2024 - 2025, styrene market is affected by factors such as plant maintenance, price change of raw material pure benzene and downstream demand expectation, and price fluctuation is frequent. For example, in the first half of 2024, supported by pure benzene, styrene price goes up all the way, in the range of RMB 8400 - 9800 / ton; in the second half of 2024, due to the increase in the supply of raw material pure benzene and the weakening of the downstream demand expectations, the center of gravity of styrene price shifts downward. These changes in styrene prices directly lead to the same fluctuation of polystyrene prices.
Supply and demand in the market::
- Supply side: If the capacity of polystyrene producers expands, or if new producers enter the market, supply increases significantly without a synchronized increase in demand, and the market becomes oversupplied, which can lead to a decline in polystyrene prices.2024 The German polystyrene market, which is well-supplied or even oversupplied as a result of high inventory levels and steady production by major manufacturers, and a large influx of imports from regions such as Asia, has made the price of general-purpose Polystyrene (GPPS) prices have continued to fall in July, and as of the third week of July, prices stood at $1,810 per metric ton (FD - Hamburg basis), down 2.4% from the previous week, and 4.8% overall since the beginning of the month. Conversely, when some production units are shut down due to breakdowns, maintenance or force majeure factors, resulting in a reduction in supply, an oversupply situation can drive polystyrene prices higher if demand remains stable or grows.
- Demand side: Polystyrene is widely used in many industries such as packaging, electronics and electrical appliances, construction, toys and so on. When these downstream industries develop well and demand for polystyrene is strong, it will drive its price up. In the electronics and electrical appliances industry, with the accelerated replacement of home appliances and the emergence of new electronic products, the demand for polystyrene continues to grow, which in turn supports the price of polystyrene . On the contrary, if the market downturn in the downstream industry shrinks the demand, such as the decrease in demand for polystyrene in major downstream industries such as automobile production of electric vehicles and the construction industry in 2024, it will put downward pressure on the price of polystyrene.
Macroeconomic environment::
- economic growth story: In times of economic prosperity, production activities in various industries are active, increasing the demand for polystyrene and driving up prices. For example, when the GDP growth rate of a country or region is high, the expansion of construction, manufacturing and other industries, the demand for polystyrene products such as packaging materials, building insulation materials (e.g., expandable polystyrene EPS used for building insulation), and so on, greatly increased, which led to the rise in the price of polystyrene. However, in the stage of economic recession or slowdown, enterprise investment and residents' willingness to consume decreases, the demand for polystyrene in downstream industries decreases, and the price tends to fall.
- Inflation and interest rates: Inflation can lead to higher production costs, including the cost of raw materials, labor, and transportation, which can drive up the price of polystyrene. Interest rate changes will also affect the price of polystyrene, higher interest rates will increase the cost of enterprise financing, inhibit investment and consumption, reduce the demand for polystyrene, so that the price fell; on the contrary, lower interest rates to stimulate economic growth, increase demand, and is conducive to the rise in the price of polystyrene .
Policies and regulations::
- environmental policy: Increasingly stringent environmental protection policies have imposed higher requirements on polystyrene producers. Enterprises need to invest more funds in the construction and operation of environmental protection facilities to meet environmental standards such as pollutant emissions, which increases production costs, which in turn may drive up the price of polystyrene. In some areas, due to environmental requirements, the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the production process of polystyrene is strictly controlled, and some small and medium-sized production capacity enterprises are unable to meet the standards and cut production or shut down production, which reduces the supply in the market, and may also contribute to the increase in prices.
- Import and export policy: Policies such as import and export tariffs and trade quotas affect the international trade pattern of polystyrene, which in turn affects prices. If a country raises import tariffs on polystyrene, it will increase the cost of imports, reduce the volume of imports, and reduce supply in the domestic market, driving up prices. Conversely, lowering tariffs or increasing import quotas will increase the volume of imports, intensify competition in the market, and prices may fall .
competition from substitute goods: Plastic materials such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) can be used as substitutes for polystyrene in some applications. When the price of substitutes decreases and their performance meets the requirements for use, downstream enterprises may choose substitutes and reduce the demand for polystyrene, resulting in a decrease in the price of polystyrene. In the packaging sector, if the price of polypropylene decreases, some companies that originally used polystyrene packaging may switch to polypropylene packaging, resulting in a decrease in polystyrene's market share in this sector and price suppression . On the contrary, if the price of substitutes increases, the competitiveness of polystyrene increases and the price may rise.

Styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS) is a thermoplastic elastomer made by block copolymerization of styrene and butadiene, with a unique two-phase structure -- polystyrene hard and polybutadiene soft. This structure makes SBS both the elasticity of rubber and the thermoplasticity of plastic, showing the high elasticity of rubber at room temperature, and can melt and flow like plastic when heated to a certain temperature, and can be molded by injection molding, extrusion and other plastics processing methods, the processing process is simple and efficient, no need for vulcanization, which greatly shortens the production cycle.

SBS has excellent elasticity, low-temperature resistance, weatherability and electrical insulation, as well as good compatibility and processability, and can be blended with a wide range of polymers, fillers and additives to improve material properties. Its specific applications are widely distributed in many fields:

In the shoe industry, SBS is one of the important raw materials for shoe soles. The soles made of SBS have good elasticity, abrasion resistance and flex resistance, which are comfortable to wear and durable, comparable to natural rubber, and at the same time, the cost is relatively low. Whether it is sports shoes, casual shoes or leather shoes, SBS is often used as the main component or modifier, which can meet the requirements of different styles of shoes on the performance of the sole.

In the field of asphalt modification, SBS plays a key role. SBS added to the road asphalt, can significantly improve the high temperature stability of asphalt, low temperature crack resistance and anti-aging properties, so that the modified asphalt pavement has better durability and rutting resistance, can adapt to different climatic conditions and traffic load requirements. At present, SBS modified asphalt has been widely used in highways, urban trunk roads and other important transportation road paving, effectively extending the service life of the road, reducing maintenance costs.

In the adhesive industry, SBS is the main base material for hot melt adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, etc. SBS-based adhesives have good initial adhesion, high bonding strength, water and oil resistance, etc., and fast curing speed, convenient construction. In the packaging field, it can be used for carton sealing, labeling, etc.; in the construction field, it can be used for flooring, wallpaper, etc.; in the automotive industry, it can be used for the adhesion of interior parts, etc., and the application scenarios are very rich.

In plastic modification, SBS is often used as a toughening agent to improve the impact properties of brittle plastics such as polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS). For example, adding an appropriate amount of SBS to PP can significantly improve the low-temperature impact strength of PP, so that it is not easy to be brittle in the low-temperature environment, expanding the scope of application of PP in cold regions and low-temperature conditions; adding SBS to PS can effectively improve the toughness of PS, making it more suitable for the production of products need to withstand a certain degree of impact.

In addition, SBS can also be used to make wire and cable insulation and sheath materials, because of its good electrical insulation, weather resistance and flexibility, can protect wires and cables from the external environment, to ensure the stable transmission of electricity and signals. In the toy industry, SBS can be used to make soft toy parts, such as toy car tires, doll limbs, etc., its elasticity and high safety, not easy to cause harm to children.

With the continuous development of technology, the performance of SBS is further optimized. Through compounding with other materials or chemical modification, SBS-based materials with special properties can be developed, expanding its application in more high-end fields, such as medical materials, high-end sealing materials, etc., which will continue to provide support for the development of various industries.

Choosing Ningbo Chaohe Plastic Co., Ltd. as SBS raw material supplier, you will enjoy high quality products and excellent service.