As the plastics industry closes out 2025, resin buyers are entering a critical planning window for 2026. In this episode of Resin Market Brief, Michael Workman and Kevin Mekaru break down what the data actually says about where resin markets are headed — and how buyers should be preparing.

This is not a headline-driven forecast. It’s a practical, buyer-focused discussion on signals vs. noise, why most resin forecasts miss, and how to use forward-looking intelligence to reduce risk and improve negotiation leverage.

What We Cover in This Episode

• Why resin forecasting is so difficult — and why traditional models fail
 • The difference between real market signals and market noise
 • Why starting with real transaction data matters more than index movement
• How ResinSmart and RTi build rolling, quarterly forecasts
• Why confidence ranges matter more than point predictions

2026 Resin Outlook by Polymer Family

• Polyethylene (PE): Balanced to soft early 2026 with tightening risk mid-year
• Polypropylene (PP): Near cycle bottom with Q1–Q2 tightening risk tied to PDH reliability
• PET: Balanced demand with regional volatility and evolving import dynamics
• Polystyrene (PS): Feedstock-driven noise, weak demand limits upside
• PVC: Structurally weak entering 2026; housing demand remains the key driver
• Engineering Resins (ABS, PC, PA6/66): Flat to slightly down early, selective volatility later

Key Takeaway for Resin Buyers

Forecasting isn’t about certainty — it’s about preparation.

The buyers who win in 2026 will be the ones who:

• benchmark fair pricing early,
• re-forecast quarterly,
• separate supplier narratives from real market conditions, and
• use forecasts as a negotiation and planning tool — not a crystal ball.

This episode is designed to help processors plan with confidence instead of reaction.

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