After the ceasefire, prices did not revert, instead the market shifted toward a demand-driven adjustment phase, with recycled materials seeing stronger application-level pull due to high virgin prices.

Key Market Behaviour

  •  • Virgin polymer prices remained elevated, keeping recycled materials cost-competitive
  •  • Recycled polymers continued to trade at ~25–40% lower than virgin equivalents, depending on application 
  •  • This led to increased substitution across cost-sensitive segments

Application-Level Shifts

rPP

  • • Injection moulding products
  • • Household goods and furniture

Demand improved by ~10–20% in price-sensitive applications

rHDPE

  • • Blow moulding (containers, drums)
  • • Pipes and industrial packaging

Substitution with recycled increased by ~15–25% in non-critical applications

rPET

Stable demand from:

  • • Textile fibre (polyester)
  • • Non-food packaging

Limited substitution shift, but steady demand maintained due to cost advantage and availability

Price Behaviour Post Ceasefire

  • • rPP & rHDPE:
    Slight correction from peak, but remain ~20–35% above pre-conflict levels
  • • rPET:
    Showing wider variation across grades, indicating early signs of market imbalance

👉 The market is not correcting back — it is realigning based on application economics

Market Overview: From Cost Shock to Demand Shift

The transition from conflict to ceasefire has shifted the market dynamic:

  •  • Initial phase driven by cost and supply disruption
  •  • Current phase driven by application-level demand and substitution
  • • Recycled polymers are now benefiting from sustained high virgin prices

Market Sentiment: Strategic Buying, Not Panic

  •  • Buyers are now actively evaluating recycled options
  •  • Procurement is cost-driven but selective
  •  • Demand is shifting toward applications where performance trade-offs are acceptable

Polymint Market View

The recent movement highlights a critical shift:

 Recycled polymers are no longer just a low-cost alternative, they are becoming a strategic material choice
Prices may stabilize, but demand for recycled polymers is likely to remain strong, particularly in non-critical and cost-sensitive applications.

Key observations:

  •  • Price spikes are event-driven, but demand shifts are structural
  •  • High virgin prices are accelerating recycled adoption in real applications
  •  • The market is transitioning toward cost-performance optimization