- Firm virgin PET prices support recycled demand, particularly for cost-sensitive converters
- Quality feedstock commands premiums, with Ahmedabad <30 ppm flakes reaching INR 90/kg
India’s rPET market remained largely stable to firm during the assessment week ended 24 September 2026, with most markets showing limited w-o-w movement. Crude prices declined from recent highs and stabilised, easing the upward pressure on rPET feedstock costs after three consecutive weeks of increases. Scrap traders are closely monitoring crude and virgin PET prices for further direction.
Demand for recycled material remained healthy as rising virgin PET prices encouraged converters to explore recycled alternatives, particularly lower-grade material. However, demand was stronger for good-quality feedstock, prompting recyclers to maintain higher offers for cleaner and more consistent material. Market participants expect quality feedstock demand to strengthen further with the upcoming festive season and improving packaging-sector requirements.
Mumbai market
Mumbai’s rPET value chain remained firm, with a notable increase in demand for good-quality flakes, while pellet prices remained broadly stable w-o-w. Limited pellet transactions were heard at around INR 1-2/kg above prevailing market levels.
Feedstock availability remained comfortable, with some traders offering discounts of around INR 1/kg to market levels against advance payment. A Navi Mumbai-based recycler reported healthy inventory and firm demand from both fibre and packaging sectors.
The recycler reported purchasing 200 tonnes (t) of regular PET bottle bales at INR 59/kg against advance payment and receiving an offer of INR 60.5/kg on 28-day payment terms.
Delhi-NCR market
The Delhi-NCR market remained largely stable w-o-w across the value chain. Participants reported comfortable inventories, although sellers continued to quote premiums for good-quality material.
Demand for high-quality feedstock remained healthy, with some recyclers building inventories in anticipation of stronger packaging-sector demand. A scrap trader reported a 100-t deal for first-grade hard-wrapper PET bottles at INR 63.8/kg and an 80-t deal for soft-wrapper material at INR 66/kg.
The trader also reported comfortable overall supply but noted that several recyclers in the region were facing difficulty securing high-quality feedstock.
Ahmedabad-Gujarat market
Ahmedabad continued to record comparatively firmer trading activity, with prices generally carrying a premium of around INR 2-3/kg over other major regions. Gujarat’s concentration of large and certified recyclers continued to support demand for quality material.
Demand remained firm across both lower- and higher-quality grades, with some converters increasingly switching towards recycled material amid a reported INR 20-30/kg price difference versus virgin PET. At the same time, high offers have reportedly led some smaller converters to temporarily stop production.
A certified recycler in the Surat region reported good feedstock availability from northern traders, while supplies from southern markets remained comparatively lower amid monsoon conditions. The recycler reported a 250-t transaction of <30 ppm rPET flakes at INR 90/kg and offered <100 ppm flakes at INR 78.8/kg to an Ahmedabad-based converter.
Export market
Indian rPET export activity remained subdued, with no fresh transactions reported during the week. Market participants continued to refer to previously quoted levels, while elevated freight costs remained a constraint on export economics.
Outlook
The domestic rPET market is expected to remain firm in the near term, although participants will closely monitor crude and virgin PET prices for further direction. A sharp decline in crude prices could place downward pressure on PET bottle bale values and recycled material prices.
Demand for good-quality feedstock is expected to strengthen further as festive-season activity and packaging-sector requirements increase. Tight availability of quality material could continue to support premium offers, particularly for cleaner bottle bales and low-ppm rPET flakes.
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