Prices

Although UK aluminium prices remain up year on year - amid fears aluminium stockpiles are decreasing - prices fell month on month in December. This was due to excess supply and weakened demand in China at the end of last year.

UK PET prices also fell month on month despite a substantial year-on-year increase. The month-on-month drop was caused by oversupply coupled with the declining cost of the feedstock paraxylene.

UK testliner prices have also been affected by falling feedstock prices and oversupply, and have fallen month on month and year on year. In contrast, UK kraftliner prices have increased year on year as a result of increasing demand in the UK as US exports become more expensive. A weakened euro against the pound has also boosted prices.

Meanwhile, in the EU, steel prices have fallen month on month, despite growing year on year.