China LLDPE and HDPE film prices pass USD 1,503 (CNY 10,000) a tonne after four-month rally

Weekly average prices for LLDPE and HDPE film in China's domestic market have risen above USD 1,503 a tonne (CNY 10,000). For LLDPE this is the highest level in over nine years; for HDPE it is the highest since November 2018. LLDPE film prices have risen 38% since mid-July and HDPE 28% since early July, driven by higher energy and feedstock costs, firmer futures and supply limits rather than stronger downstream demand. The rally has erased HDPE's long-standing premium over LLDPE, which reached USD 150 a tonne in April 2026.

Why this mattersRising Chinese PE resin costs raise feedstock prices for flexible and rigid plastics packaging converters while downstream film demand stays weak, squeezing margins.

• Weekly average LLDPE film price above USD 1,503 a tonne (CNY 10,000) for the first time since February 2018
• LLDPE film prices up a cumulative 38% since mid-July 2026, four consecutive months of gains
• HDPE film prices up 28% since early July 2026, highest since November 2018
• HDPE's premium over LLDPE, USD 150 a tonne in April 2026, has been eliminated
• LLDPE supply tight in South China on low operating rates; HDPE broadly ample
• Packaging film demand weakening as e-commerce firms cut inventory building

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