AI price report

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KI PRICE REPORT | MARCH 2026

Monthly contracts rise significantly / Individual specialties no longer available / Massive increase in styrene sets direction for April

The war in the Middle East and the renewed rise in the price of styrene in March led to a significant increase in monthly contracts. Without the dampening effect of the quarterly contracts, the increases would have been even greater. Very few imports and only limited production in Europe significantly reduced the number of potential suppliers. Some specialty products were already described as being in short supply or no longer available. The vast majority of processors still had coronavirus on their minds, so they took a cautious approach and only ordered material for existing orders.

The war in the Middle East is not yet over and the EU’s anti-dumping duties are taking effect. Prices will therefore rise sharply with the new quarter. The styrene contract for April, which rose by 469 EUR/t compared to the previous month, offers a foretaste. Concerns about supply security are doing the rest. It can be felt everywhere that the pendulum is swinging towards the sellers’ market. There are no signs of any structural or economic impetus for more demand. Here and there, the construction sector needs a little more material, but otherwise only the bare essentials are being ordered.

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PIE PRICE REPORT | MARCH 2026

Composites/GRP March: Significant increase in monthly contracts / Individual specialities no longer available / Massive hike for styrene sets tone for April

The war in the Middle East and the renewed increase in the price of styrene in March prompted a significant rise in the monthly contracts. And the hike would have been even greater had it not been tempered by the quarterly contracts.

Very few imports and the ongoing production cutbacks in Europe considerably reduced the number of potential suppliers. Individual specialties were already reported as being in short supply or no longer available. Most converters were still thinking back to the pandemic and adopting the cautious approach of only ordering the material they knew they actually needed.

The war in the Middle East is not yet over and the EU’s anti-dumping tariffs are taking effect. Prices can thus rise sharply with the start of the new quarter. The styrene contract for April is providing a taste of things to come, having skyrocketed EUR 469/t on the previous month.

Concerns about the security of supply are not helping matters, either. It is becoming clear everywhere that the tide is turning in favor of a seller’s market. No momentum to boost demand is evident in either structural or economic terms. The construction industry needs somewhat more material here and there but, for the rest, converters are only ordering what is absolutely essential.

KI PRICE REPORT | ARCHIVE