2021 Resin Shortage
Industry-wide, customers who rely on resin suppliers to manufacture pipe are facing challenges. After reasonably consistent and predictable markets in 2019 and 2020, the forecast for 2021 was more of the same. With Asia and Europe expecting weak demand, America’s exports to these regions were supposed to be fairly small, allowing domestic PE supplies from Houston-area producers to remain stable and steady. As the saying goes, a “series of unfortunate events” unfolded, dealing pipe suppliers unforeseen realities. Saying everything changed overnight in resin production is not an understatement.