In the second quarter of 2026, the shipment value of US plastics machinery stood at $235.8 million, down 14.8% quarter-on-quarter and 7.2% year-on-year. While shipments of twin-screw extruders rose 25.4% sequentially (despite a sharp year-on-year decline), injection molding machine shipments increased by 4.5% year-on-year. New orders were robust, and equipment investment grew at an annualized rate of 27.7%; economists attribute the sluggish shipment figures to delivery lags, viewing them instead as a harbinger of strengthening demand. The trade surplus for the quarter reached $480.3 million, a year-on-year expansion of 24.1%. Additionally, 39% of respondents expressed optimism regarding the outlook for the next 12 months, pointing toward a moderate recovery.

The strong performance of new orders for US plastics machinery in Q2 2026—coupled with the fact that weak shipment figures stemmed from delivery delays and equipment investment grew at an annualized rate of 27.7%—suggests rising expectations for capacity expansion in downstream plastics manufacturing. Together with the outlook for a moderate industry recovery, these factors are favorable for the demand for ABS, EPS, PC, PP, and PS, providing positive support for their spot prices.

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