Global price of high-density polyethylene 2017-2023

The price of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) has fluctuated significantly from 2017 to 2023, reaching a low of 837 U.S. dollars per metric ton in 2020 and a high of 1,211 U.S. dollars per metric ton in 2018. The price was shown to have increased slightly from this 2020 minimum to a value of 988 U.S. dollars per metric ton in 2023. 

HDPE as a petrochemical derivative

  One of the main factors that influences the HDPE market is the price of the raw material ethylene. Ethylene is a petrochemical product that is significantly affected by global oil prices and supply and demand dynamics. In 2021 the global ethylene market size was valued at 176 billion U.S. dollars and was forecast to increase to a value of 287 billion U.S. dollars by 2030. The ethylene market is predominantly dominated by the Asia Pacific region , contributing 42.6 percent of total revenue. China holds the position of the world's largest consumer of ethylene, accounting for 18 percent of global demand, while the remaining Asian countries consumed 22 percent.

Environmental concerns and HDPE alternatives

HDPE poses significant environmental concerns due to its non-biodegradability and challenges in recycling. Since 1950, the global production of plastic materials has exceeded nine billion metric tons, but only nine percent of them have been recycled. The remaining plastic waste has been either discarded in landfills or released into the environment. As one of the most widely manufactured plastics worldwide, HDPE waste can accumulate over time, leading to pollution and adverse health effects for both humans and animals. To address these issues, various alternatives to HDPE are being developed or utilized, such as bioplastics, synthetic paper, and bio-based HDPE. These alternatives aim to mitigate the environmental impacts of HDPE by utilizing renewable resources, biodegradable materials, or minimizing carbon emissions. However, these alternatives also have notable drawbacks, including higher costs, reduced performance, and the potential for competition with food crops.