{"id":16377,"date":"2023-06-23T08:14:49","date_gmt":"2023-06-23T06:14:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/?p=16377"},"modified":"2026-05-04T11:01:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T09:01:05","slug":"plastic-shortage-rising-prices-and-scarce-raw-materials-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/plastic-shortage-rising-prices-and-scarce-raw-materials-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Plastic Shortage: Rising prices and scarce raw materials explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-white ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/plastic-shortage-rising-prices-and-scarce-raw-materials-explained\/#Sharp_price_increase_for_plastics\" title=\"Sharp price increase for plastics\">Sharp price increase for plastics<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/plastic-shortage-rising-prices-and-scarce-raw-materials-explained\/#Problems_in_Transport_Logistics\" title=\"Problems in Transport Logistics\">Problems in Transport Logistics<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/plastic-shortage-rising-prices-and-scarce-raw-materials-explained\/#Political_Factors_for_Increasing_Prices\" title=\"Political Factors for Increasing Prices\">Political Factors for Increasing Prices<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/plastic-shortage-rising-prices-and-scarce-raw-materials-explained\/#Impact_of_Weather_Events\" title=\"Impact of Weather Events\">Impact of Weather Events<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/plastic-shortage-rising-prices-and-scarce-raw-materials-explained\/#Exploding_Prices_Due_to_Plastic_Shortages\" title=\"Exploding Prices Due to Plastic Shortages\">Exploding Prices Due to Plastic Shortages<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/plastic-shortage-rising-prices-and-scarce-raw-materials-explained\/#Price_Trends_for_Engineering_Plastics\" title=\"Price Trends for Engineering Plastics\">Price Trends for Engineering Plastics<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/plastic-shortage-rising-prices-and-scarce-raw-materials-explained\/#Fluoroplastics_The_Most_Severe_Shortages\" title=\"Fluoroplastics: The Most Severe Shortages\">Fluoroplastics: The Most Severe Shortages<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/plastic-shortage-rising-prices-and-scarce-raw-materials-explained\/#Recycling_of_Plastics_and_the_Use_of_Renewable_Energy\" title=\"Recycling of Plastics and the Use of Renewable Energy\">Recycling of Plastics and the Use of Renewable Energy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The convergence of several events led to a plastic shortage and a sharp increase in prices. This affected not only plastics, but also other raw materials such as metals, wood and building materials. One of the triggers for this shortage was the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.<\/strong> <strong>It highlighted the global economy\u2019s dependence on international supply chains.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"tw-target-text\" class=\"tw-data-text tw-text-large tw-ta\" dir=\"ltr\" tabindex=\"-1\" role=\"text\" data-placeholder=\"\u00dcbersetzung\" data-ved=\"2ahUKEwih8bvGiZ-UAxUFSvEDHWBfBJYQ3ewLegQIDBAV\" aria-label=\"\u00dcbersetzter Text: Sharp price increase for plastics\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sharp_price_increase_for_plastics\"><\/span><span class=\"Y2IQFc\" lang=\"en\">Sharp price increase for plastics<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Whether <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubings-and-pipes-made-of-rigid-plastics\">plastic tubings<\/a>, semi-finished products, valves or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tube-hose-connectors\">hose connectors<\/a>: prices of products made from engineering plastics and fluoropolymers have risen significantly over the past two years. Some high-performance plastics, such as PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) or PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene), were at times unavailable altogether. But what are the underlying causes?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tube-hose-connectors\/connectors-made-of-plastic\/screw-joints-for-rigid-tubes-and-pipes\/31319\/straight-pipe-connector-made-of-pa-or-pvdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8867\" title=\"Straight tube connector made from PA or PVDF\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/rohrverbinder-aus-pa-oder-pvdf.jpg\" alt=\"Straight tube connector made from PA or PVDF\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/rohrverbinder-aus-pa-oder-pvdf.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/rohrverbinder-aus-pa-oder-pvdf-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/rohrverbinder-aus-pa-oder-pvdf-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubings-and-pipes-made-of-rigid-plastics\/pvdf-tubing-and-pipes\/28794\/pvdf-chemical-tubing\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8868\" title=\"PVDF chemical hose\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pvdf-schlaeuche-und-rohre-pvdf-chemieschlauch.jpg\" alt=\"PVDF chemical hose\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pvdf-schlaeuche-und-rohre-pvdf-chemieschlauch.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pvdf-schlaeuche-und-rohre-pvdf-chemieschlauch-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pvdf-schlaeuche-und-rohre-pvdf-chemieschlauch-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Due to the outbreak of the pandemic and the associated lockdowns, fewer raw materials were extracted, and production was reduced or even completely halted in many places. Some companies used the production downtime for extensive maintenance work lasting several weeks or even months. Following the initial recovery phase, demand for raw materials such as oil, natural gas, metals, wood and semiconductors rose sharply and could not be met in full.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Problems_in_Transport_Logistics\"><\/span>Problems in Transport Logistics<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Global supply chains were also disrupted by the pandemic. Following COVID-19 outbreaks at China\u2019s fourth-largest port, Yantian, in June 2021 and its second-largest port, Ningbo, in October 2022, operations were scaled down or partially suspended for several weeks. In Yantian, around 500,000 containers were awaiting clearance. The container ship \u201cEver Given\u201d, which ran aground in the Suez Canal in March 2021, also contributed to disruptions in global supply chains.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8861\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8861\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8861 size-full\" title=\"The container ship &quot;Ever Given&quot; blocks the Suez Canal (March 2021)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ever-given-blockiert-den-suezkanal.jpg\" alt=\"The container ship &quot;Ever Given&quot; blocks the Suez Canal (March 2021)\" width=\"450\" height=\"309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ever-given-blockiert-den-suezkanal.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ever-given-blockiert-den-suezkanal-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ever-given-blockiert-den-suezkanal-110x75.jpg 110w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8861\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><center>The container ship &#8220;Ever Given&#8221; blocks the Suez Canal (March 2021)<\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The slow handling of containers led to shortages and increased costs. While the price of a container was around USD 1,600 in 2020, it rose to USD 2,500 in 2021.<\/p>\n<div class=\"box info  \"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"fa tie-shortcode-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\tFreight costs also increased significantly: transporting a 40-foot container from Shanghai to Rotterdam cost around USD 2,000 in January 2020, rising to nearly USD 14,000 by August 2021.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Political_Factors_for_Increasing_Prices\"><\/span>Political Factors for Increasing Prices<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war in Ukraine also contributed to the shortage of plastics. Following Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, crude oil imports to Germany from Russia fell by 99.9% as a result of the EU oil embargo, according to Germany\u2019s Federal Statistical Office.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">While 2.8 million tonnes of crude oil were still imported into Germany from Russia in January 2022, this figure dropped to just 3,500 tonnes by January 2023. Demand for crude oil \u2013 the most important raw material for the plastics-producing industry \u2013 is now being met through additional imports from Norway, the United Kingdom and Kazakhstan. At the same time, the average annual crude oil price increased from USD 41.5 per barrel in 2020 to USD 100 per barrel in 2022 due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Energy costs have also risen sharply since Russia\u2019s attack on Ukraine, as imports of fossil fuels from Russia have been significantly reduced due to sanctions. According to Germany\u2019s Federal Statistical Office, natural gas in Germany was 50.7% more expensive in January 2023 than in January 2022, while electricity prices rose by 27.3%.<\/p>\n<div class=\"box note  \"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"fa tie-shortcode-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\tEnergy-intensive industries are particularly affected, including the production of chemical products and plastics, metal production and processing, coke and petroleum processing, glass and ceramics production, as well as paper and cardboard manufacturing.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Impact_of_Weather_Events\"><\/span>Impact of Weather Events<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition, a weather event also contributed to the shortage of plastics. In mid-February 2021, a sudden cold snap in Texas caused widespread power outages lasting several days. Houston, Texas, is home to the largest petrochemical complex in the United States.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/semi-finished-products\/plates\/plastic-sheets\/30230\/plate-made-of-hdpe\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8869\" title=\"Sheet made from HDPE\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/platte-aus-hdpe.jpg\" alt=\"Sheet made from HDPE\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/platte-aus-hdpe.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/platte-aus-hdpe-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/platte-aus-hdpe-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubing-made-of-elastomers-soft-rubber\/pvc-tubing-tygon-tubing\/28644\/pvc-chemical-tubing-metric\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8870\" title=\"PVC chemical tubing - metric\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pvc-chemieschlauch-metrisch.jpg\" alt=\"PVC chemical tubing - metric\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pvc-chemieschlauch-metrisch.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pvc-chemieschlauch-metrisch-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pvc-chemieschlauch-metrisch-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Approximately 90 companies there produce commodity plastics such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubings-and-pipes-made-of-rigid-plastics\/pe-tubing\">polyethylene<\/a>, polypropylene, polystyrene and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubing-made-of-elastomers-soft-rubber\/pvc-tubing-tygon-tubing\">polyvinyl chloride<\/a>, accounting for around 42% of total US petrochemical production capacity. The power outages led to supply bottlenecks and disruptions that also affected Europe and in some cases persisted until June 2021.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exploding_Prices_Due_to_Plastic_Shortages\"><\/span>Exploding Prices Due to Plastic Shortages<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Plastic prices depend on several factors, including the prices of petrochemical intermediates, production capacities and costs, demand in the respective markets, and newly introduced CO<sub>2<\/sub> pricing. Rising crude oil prices also affect the prices of plastic intermediates such as ethylene, propylene, 1,3-butadiene and ethylbenzene, which are produced through thermal cracking of naphtha.<\/p>\n<p>The first significant price increase of around 70% was recorded in the first half of 2021, followed by a second increase in summer 2022, reaching up to 130% for PS compared to prices in May 2019. Prices for recycled PP, PE-LD and PS also rose by more than 50% in 2021. Although plastic prices declined again in 2023, prices for commodity plastics still remain between 20% and 30% above 2019 levels.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Price_Trends_for_Engineering_Plastics\"><\/span>Price Trends for Engineering Plastics<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Engineering plastics used in structural and mechanical applications, which offer higher temperature resistance and improved mechanical properties compared to commodity plastics for general use, have also become significantly more expensive. Prices began to rise sharply at the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021. The highest increases in the first half of the year ranged from 56% for PA to 130% for ABS. Compared to May 2019, ABS and PC recorded the lowest increase at around 30% by March 2023, while PA 6.6 and POM became between 60% and 70% more expensive.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fluoroplastics_The_Most_Severe_Shortages\"><\/span>Fluoroplastics: The Most Severe Shortages<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the production of fluoroplastics, raw material shortages have an even more pronounced impact on pricing. Fluoropolymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluoroelastomer (FFKM), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and perfluoroalkoxy copolymer (PFA) are among the high-performance plastics used where other plastics fail. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubings-and-pipes-made-of-rigid-plastics\/ptfe-tubing\">PTFE tubings<\/a>\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/seals-and-gaskets\/o-rings\">O-rings<\/a> made from FFKM are considered indispensable materials in fluid handling and sealing technology.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubings-and-pipes-made-of-rigid-plastics\/ptfe-tubing\/28770\/ptfe-chemical-tubing-standard\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8871\" title=\"PTFE chemical tubing - standard\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ptfe-chemieschlauch-standard.jpg\" alt=\"PTFE chemical tubing - standard\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ptfe-chemieschlauch-standard.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ptfe-chemieschlauch-standard-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ptfe-chemieschlauch-standard-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/seals-and-gaskets\/o-rings\/ffkm-o-rings\/30632\/high-performance-ffkm-o-rings-food-imperial\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8872\" title=\"High Performance FFKM O-rings - food, inch sizes\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/o-ringe-food-zoellig.jpg\" alt=\"FFKM O-rings - food, inch sizes\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/o-ringe-food-zoellig.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/o-ringe-food-zoellig-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/o-ringe-food-zoellig-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">One of the raw materials required for the production of fluoroplastics is fluorspar (calcium fluoride, CaF<sub>2<\/sub>). In Europe, this mineral is now only available in limited quantities and must be imported, as domestic deposits are largely depleted. The main supplier is China, with 5.4 million tonnes in 2020, followed by Mexico with 915,000 tonnes. As China prioritised its domestic market, export volumes for European industry declined. As a result, fluoroplastics have been affected by significantly greater shortages than other types of plastics.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The stronger price increase for fluoroplastics is clearly evident when comparing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubing-made-of-elastomers-soft-rubber\">fluoroelastomers<\/a> with other elastomers. Prices for NBR, HNBR and EPDM also rose continuously, although increases ranged between 60% and 90%.<\/p>\n<div class=\"box info  \"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"fa tie-shortcode-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\tFluoroelastomers recorded a price increase of more than 180% in the first half of 2022. After a slight decline, prices at the end of 2022 were still around 150% above the level of May 2020.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recycling_of_Plastics_and_the_Use_of_Renewable_Energy\"><\/span>Recycling of Plastics and the Use of Renewable Energy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Due to the shortage of plastics, plastic recycling has gained importance. However, the use of recycled materials is currently limited due to regulatory safety requirements, technical challenges and high quality standards. In addition, recyclates are not available in sufficient quantities or consistent quality. Price increases are also observed for recycled materials, similar to virgin materials.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is, however, a positive aspect to high energy costs and raw material shortages: both consumers and industry have initiated a shift in thinking. High energy costs are driving efforts to reduce energy consumption, while dependence on fossil fuels is decreasing with the increasing use of renewable energy. Both developments benefit the environment.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In industry, perspectives on sourcing, raw material storage and supplier diversification are evolving. Clear labelling of plastics to enable proper sorting can increase the share of recyclates and improve the circular economy for plastics. Reducing overall plastic consumption, particularly of non-recyclable polymer blends, also contributes to mitigating plastics shortages in the long term.<\/p>\n<pre><strong>Image Sources: <\/strong>\r\nCover image | \u00a9 aykuterd \u2013 stock.adobe.com\r\n\"Ever Given\" blocks the Suez Canal | \u00a9 Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2021, CC BY 2.0 &lt;https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0&gt;, via Wikimedia Commons<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The convergence of several events led to a plastic shortage and a sharp increase in prices. This affected not only plastics, but also other raw materials such as metals, wood and building materials. One of the triggers for this shortage was the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. It highlighted the global economy\u2019s dependence on international supply &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":13112,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3028,3029],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-alle-beitraege-en","category-werkstoffe-in-der-chemie-en"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Plastic Shortage: Rising prices and scarce raw materials explained<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Plastic shortage explained: polymer prices have surged and supply has tightened. Discover the causes and affected plastics | RCT Magazine\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/plastic-shortage-rising-prices-and-scarce-raw-materials-explained\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Plastic Shortage: Rising prices and scarce raw materials explained\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Plastic shortage explained: polymer prices have surged and supply has tightened. 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