Newsletter: 181

Date: October 10, 2025

 

Plastic Raw Materials in Europe – December 2025

In recent weeks, it has been confirmed that the European market for plastic raw materials is still trapped in a dynamic of low demand and competitive pressure. Although total production in Europe managed to stabilize in 2024, its global weight continues to fall and the competitiveness gap vis-à-vis Asia and the US widens. The pressure of low-cost imports – especially from the Middle East and the US – maintains a “ceiling” on virgin prices, also dragging down recycling. Added to this is a regulatory environment that is advancing faster than industrial capacity: new recycled content requirements, mandatory certifications and eco-design standards that generate additional costs and more cautious investment decisions. The result is a very reactive market, with short orders, ultra-conservative inventory strategies and greater interest in circular grades, although the profitability of recycling remains compromised. Overall, everything points to a sector entering a new structural cycle of lower volume, greater specialisation and continuous pressure on margins.

 

PET Update – December 2025

PET remains critical for beverage and food packaging in Europe.

V-PET capacity has been reduced by closures (such as Plastiverd in Spain) and low utilization in other plants, while investment in food-grade rPET is accelerating to meet European regulations on recycled content (25% in bottles by 2025).

Key manufacturers such as Indorama, Novapet and Alpek are leading the transition, expanding their recycling capacity and securing V-PET + rPET blends.

Despite the stability in the supply of rPET, prices remain sensitive to import pressure and energy costs, maintaining tight margins.

Overall, the market confirms that circularity is the sustainable growth path for European PET, while virgin PET is structurally losing weight.

 

BRENT

Oil price in general (global crude)

• Crude oil prices have been declining in December 2025 on concerns about a global supply glut outstripping demand, which is putting pressure on major crude futures.
• WTI (another important oil market benchmark) has remained near ~57–58 USD per barrel this week, with recent bearish year-to-date variations.
• Expectations prevail that prices will continue to be pressured downwards if the accumulation of inventories continues.

Brent price in December 2025

According to market data:

• Brent was trading around $≈61.4 per barrel (futures contract) today — with a recent surge due to geopolitical tensions partially offsetting the downward pressure.
• Data from financial platforms also shows recent records of Brent in an approximate range of 57–63 USD per barrel in the first days of December.

This indicates that in December Brent has been trading at around USD 60/barrel, placing itself under the trend observed in previous months of 2025 (when it was mostly in the mid-60s/low-70s).

Downward pressure from oversupply

• The pressure of global excess supply (more production than demand) is the dominant factor. Many analysts speak of a possible “super-glut” that is pushing prices downwards even with episodes of geopolitical tension.

• This affects both Brent and other references such as WTI. Tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela have led to temporary rises in Brent amid risks of supply disruptions.

 

Brent Oil Evolution and Projection for 2025 (USD)

 

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