Recycled PET and post-consumer bottles from deposit return systems (DRS) became more expensive again on the German market in April. However, converters were putting up mounting opposition, recyclers said. Prices were so high that ever more buyers were exiting the fibre and film segment or scaling back their flake and regranulate orders because virgin PET was cheaper after recent declines. At least so far, preform manufacturers have been snapping up any "newly available" material.
Recyclers criticised prices for post-consumer bottles that they feel have climbed too far, sending flake and regranulate prices soaring. This development might ultimately stifle demand for recycled PET (rPET). "I don't see any reason for higher bottle prices," one well-known market player told EUWID.
Recyclers are pinning their hopes on higher bottle arisings in the weeks and months ahead since beverage consumption will swell as the weather gets warmer and more people engage in leisure activities after the end of most Covid-19 restrictions in Germany. Arisings had already headed higher in April amidst generally good weather, sources told EUWID. However, industry insiders caution that overall inflation might have a negative impact on sales of water in PET bottles....
