Throughout May 2025, the Polystyrene market in USA was relatively stable after decreasing significantly in the previous month.

During the first week, Polystyrene prices did not change, indicating that the market activities were just normal. This consistency was mainly because of the moderate demand for this commodity from downstream companies. Buyers, especially those in packaging and expanded Polystyrene segments, were very much conservative in making their purchase orders, while players in the insulation and consumer goods sectors did not show any signs of recovery.

Base material Styrene and feedstock Benzene witnessed a reduction in prices, providing no cost support on the Polystyrene production side. Market participants remained sceptical and adopted a cautious approach, as there weren’t any major factors influencing the existing market scenario.

The consistency in Polystyrene pricing observed during the week was followed by a sharp decrease in April, which was mainly because of lower downstream demand and increased competition among suppliers. Both the performance of construction and packaging sectors was below expectations during the month, making sellers reduce their prices to manage the inventory levels and maintain cash flow. As May started, Polystyrene manufacturers continued to operate at moderate levels, and they changed their output levels in line with the existing contracts. Stock levels at the U.S. ports were adequate, and there weren’t any signs of urgency from buyers and sellers to change the existing balance in supply.

Polystyrene market remained stable in the second week, with prices being unchanged. Packaging demand continued to follow the trend of the previous month, with average consumer spending and a decrease in industrial orders. Cost-cutting measures, such as the plant closures by companies like International Paper, highlighted the reduced market sentiment. Moreover, tariff concerns and lower consumer confidence in the electronics sector further prevented any potential price growth for Polystyrene.

In the third week, Polystyrene market saw a nominal growth, with prices increasing only by 0.3%. This marginal increase was mainly because of higher export prices for the general-purpose and high-impact grades (GPPS and HIPS), supported by a slight rise in feedstock prices. Domestic prices remained almost stable, and a subtle balance between supply and demand led to this minor price change.

Once again, Polystyrene prices got stabilized during the final week of May. The market remained stable as there as a balance between the supply and demand. Also, production continued normally, and there were no changes in the cost of raw materials. Demand from packaging and construction industries was constant, and global trade factors did not have any visible impact on the domestic Polystyrene market.