221 Insights

Gareth Lamb

Gareth joined Czarnikow in 2021 and is Czarnikow’s PET analyst and recycling specialist. As well as regularly reporting on key market trends and dynamics, Gareth is also developing new research products and analytics within the PET and rPET space. Prior to joining Czarnikow, Gareth led Wood Mackenzie’s PET research service and was Senior Consultant at IHS Markit, working within the petrochemical consulting team. Dr. Lamb graduated from the University of St Andrews with a PhD in organometallic chemistry; and has a masters of Chemistry degree from the University of Liverpool.

PET Raw Material Futures Outlook: Chinese PET Resin Export Margins Threatened by New Capacity, Trade Barriers, Volatile Freight

PTA pricing constrained by high inventory despite improved fundamentals.
China PET resin export prices weaken, new capacity, trade barriers, and freight increase threaten.
PET raw material forward curve remains in contango with USD10/tonne premium to Sept.

Gareth Lamb

5 days ago

3 min read

PET Raw Material Futures Outlook: Chinese PET Resin Margins Kept in Check by Structural Oversupply

PTA futures buoyed by higher upstream costs, steadily improving fundamentals.
China PET resin export prices rise slowly, restrained by oversupply and upcoming new capacity.
Raw material forward curve shows only slight USD 10/tonne premium through to Sept.

Gareth Lamb

2 weeks ago

4 min read

European PET Market View: Can European PET Prices Sustain Faced with Fresh Production and Imports?

European PET industry staged a dramatic come-back in Q1, further upside recovery limited.
EU PET resin prices remain static, buyers hoping to see lower values in April/May.
Low-priced Vietnamese resin still most competitive option, availability increasingly constrained.

Gareth Lamb

3 weeks ago

4 min read

PET Raw Material Futures Outlook: Will Chinese PET Resin Margin Recovery Continue into April?

PTA and MEG Futures decline as oversupply in both markets weigh on sentiment.
China PET resin export prices slowly ease, although raw material spreads improve.
Near-term weakness in raw material curve creates new contango in forward prices.

Gareth Lamb

4 weeks ago

4 min read

PET Resin Trade Flows: Asian PET Resin Exports Make Gains Despite Increased Trade Barriers

EU PET resin imports post record year even with ADD investigation against Chinese resin.
US bottle-grade PET imports eased in Q4’23; Taiwan resin continues to grow market share.
Indian bottle-grade PET exports fell to a multi-year low; new ADD review into Chinese supplier.

Gareth Lamb

4 weeks ago

5 min read

PET Raw Material Futures Outlook: Resurgent Crude Lifts PTA Futures and PET Resin Export Prices

PTA Futures follow rising crude prices higher, despite ample supply narrowing margins.
China PET resin export prices lifted by feedstock costs; fundamentals remain weakened.
Raw material forward curve keeps flat, pricing dominated by crude in near-term.

Gareth Lamb

1 month ago

3 min read

PET Raw Material Futures Outlook: Weaker Raw Materials Drag on PET Resin Export Prices as Seasonal Demand Renews

PTA Futures finish week on the back-foot, as both upstream costs and margins decline.
China PET resin export prices keep soft, tracking raw materials downwards.
Raw material forward curve has now flattened on recent near-term declines.

Gareth Lamb

1 month ago

3 min read

PET Raw Material Futures Outlook: Chinese PET Resin Oversupply Amplified As Lines Restart and New Capacity Added

PTA and MEG Futures retreat on slow downstream demand and abundant supply.
China PET resin export prices trend downwards on lower costs and oversupply.
Several PET resin lines to restart after maintenance; Yisheng adds new 350k tonne line.

Gareth Lamb

2 months ago

3 min read

PET Raw Material Futures Outlook: Chinese PET Resin Export Prices Reopen on Weaker Footing Post-New Year Break

PTA and MEG reopen marginally higher following Chinese New Year.
China PET resin export prices soften through the weak, sub-900 range coming back into view.
How will low operating rates and margins impact schedule for upcoming capacity additions?

Gareth Lamb

2 months ago

3 min read

European PET Market View: European PET Resin Price Recovery Strengthens on Alpek UK FM

European PET prices continued to strengthen following Alpek UK’s FM declaration.
Weak consumer demand and additional supply likely to contain further upside.
EU PET import market fragmented since Chinese ADD, Vietnamese resin key competitor.

Gareth Lamb

2 months ago

4 min read

PET Raw Material Futures Outlook: Crude Leaps as Ceasefire Deal Rejected Lifting PTA Futures and PET Resin Prices

PTA futures rise on higher crude as Gaza hope for imminent ceasefire dissipates.
Market activity quietens ahead of Chinese New Year holiday.
Low operating rates and oversupply expected to keep margins constrained into March.

Gareth Lamb

2 months ago

3 min read

PET Resin Trade Flows: Despite Freight Disruption Chinese PET Resin Exports End 2023 on High

Chinese PET resin exports post another record year in terms of volume.
South Korea exports experienced a seasonal decline; ADD against China investigation initiated.
Thailand PET resin exports increased 13% in 2023, Japan and US remain key markets.

Gareth Lamb

2 months ago

4 min read