European polymers face difficult winter on demand destruction, competition for supply

Key European polymer markets face a bearish cocktail of demand destruction from the cost-of-living crisis and planned extra supply from new plants that could leave the industry facing a supply-demand hangover. Polymers, including polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride which underwent a coronavirus-induced boost from working from home and pharmaceutical needs, now see demand weakening on a worsening economic picture and…