TEXTILES.ORG
Polypropylene and other plastic resins have increased in price in recent months as a result of conflict in the Middle East, affecting the cost of geosynthetic products.
A similar price increase occurred in early 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased demand for personal protective equipment worldwide.
“Higher feedstock costs and supply disruptions tied to the war with Iran pushed North American resin prices higher in April, with increases hitting polyethylene [PE], polypropylene, polystyrene, PVC and nylon,” according to a May 7 post from Plastics News.
On April 27, Plastics News reported that PE prices increased by 30 cents in April.
According to MSN, “between the final months of 2025 and March 2026, epoxy resin buyers in the Middle East watched prices climb by nearly a third — 31.9%.”
Resintel reported on March 24 that the impact from the conflict in the Middle East was “severe for Polyethylene and Polypropylene because the war has hit the chain at every level: crude, gas, LNG [liquified natural gas], export terminals, refineries, crackers and petrochemical logistics. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively shut or nearly shut for much of the period, and roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG flows normally transit that route.”
According to a May 1 post from Plastics Technology, the conflict with Iran has “dramatically disrupted shipping routes and global resin trade flows, particularly for polyolefins.”
Plastics Technology also reported that prices of all resins are projected to increase further with “a potential for elevated prices for the remainder of the year, even if the conflict comes to an end in the near future.”
The Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) releases monthly trade data on its website, with each month’s dataset reflecting trade from two months prior. Trade data from May 2026 will be available on its website July 7.
OTEXA is currently seeking input from textile industry participants about the impact of these price increases. To contact the office, visit trade.gov/about-us/otexa-contact-us.
Advanced Textiles Association and Geosynthetic Materials Association will continue to monitor this issue and will provide future information to address the wider concerns of the membership.