While prices for primary plastics have seen drops in the triple-digits in some cases, prices for recyclate were still mostly stable in June, as was demand. According to recyclers, there were slight mark-ups in certain sub-segments. But on the whole, recyclate was coming under growing price pressure because primary plastics are now more readily available and less expensive.
Industry players are becoming increasingly worried about the threatened interruption of the natural gas supply from Russia and about inflation and higher interest rates, ongoing supply-chain problems, high energy costs and constantly rising freight costs. The general crisis is likely to intensify in summer, industry experts say. In particular, the rapidly rising energy costs, which are already weighing on some companies and will affect others in the coming months, are squeezing recyclers' margins....
