In this episode of Resin Market Moves, Michael Workman, Executive Director of ResinSmart, walks through the key risks shaping the North American plastic resin market in early 2026.

Rather than a demand-led recovery, markets are being driven by:

• supply discipline in polyethylene
• feedstock volatility in polypropylene
• cost push without demand support in polystyrene
• rising raw material costs beneath stable pricing in ABS and polycarbonate
• early supplier initiatives in nylons
• and continued buyer leverage in PET

Michael also shares insights from MD&M West 2026, where medical device manufacturers emphasized the high cost of pricing surprises in regulated, long-cycle environments — and why benchmarking is becoming the preferred first step.

This episode focuses on risk, structure, and discipline, not price predictions — and offers a framework buyers can use to navigate 2026 with confidence.