ABS Resin Price Rise Impacts ABS Core Tube Industry
28 August 2026 —— Affected by the ongoing escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the price of ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) granules has recently surged once again, breaking through the 10,000 yuan per tonne mark on 20 August, with a cumulative increase of 11.07 per cent over the past 60 days.
The key driver behind the recent rise in ABS resin pellet prices has been the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. Tensions between the US and Iran have pushed up international crude oil prices, with the monthly average for Brent crude reaching US$78.43 per barrel; as a result, the three key upstream raw materials——pure benzene, styrene, butadiene and acrylonitrile——have all risen across the board. According to data monitored by Business Society, ABS ex-factory prices were pushed up by 500 to 1,000 yuan per tonne in July, with the trading range for domestically produced material shifting upwards to between 9,700 and 11,000 yuan per tonne.
It is worth noting that this is not the first significant price surge for ABS resin this year. Looking back at the price trend in 2026: at the start of the year, ABS prices remained at around 8,000 yuan per tonne; following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict in mid-March, they surged to 14,500 yuan per tonne; by the end of May, they had fallen back to just over 10,000 yuan per tonne; in early July, they hit a year-to-date low of 8,700 yuan per tonne; subsequently, as the conflict escalated once more, prices returned to the 10,000-yuan mark.
ABS core tubes are wound support tubes manufactured using extrusion processes, with ABS resin as the primary raw material. They are widely used to support and protect roll-form materials such as film, paper, metal foil, textiles, optical films and lithium-ion battery separators. As the cost of raw materials accounts for a significant proportion of the total product cost, fluctuations in the price of ABS granules have a particularly direct impact on ABS core tube manufacturers.
Most small and medium-sized enterprises have chosen to temporarily reduce their profit margins in order to keep their quotations to downstream customers stable, thereby maintaining customer relationships and market share. However, JSHKCORES has remained consistent in its approach. To take a recent order as an example: last week, a client urgently required a batch of 6-inch ABS core tubes with a wall thickness of 12 mm. Although the current procurement cost of ABS granules has risen by more than 25 per cent compared to last year, we still insisted on fulfilling the order at last year's contractual price, proactively absorbing the full cost increase resulting from the rise in raw material prices. "In the short term, we have indeed sacrificed profits, but maintaining long-term customer relationships is more important than short-term profits." Against the backdrop of the current industry-wide pressure, retaining core customers and safeguarding market share are key to survival.
Against a backdrop of persistently high raw material prices, JSHKCORES has not simply passed on the cost pressures to its customers. For long-standing clients with whom we have established partnerships, we have consistently adhered to supplying goods at the original contract prices; whilst for enquiries from new clients, we have never taken the opportunity to inflate prices, but instead provide fair quotations based on reasonable cost calculations. The ABS core tube industry is a sector that thrives on long-term trust; whilst short-term profit-seeking may yield temporary financial gains, it comes at the cost of losing customers' trust and future business opportunities.
As a specialist manufacturer with deep expertise in the ABS core tube sector, Jiangsu Hongkai Plastic Technology Co., Ltd. has developed strong capabilities in extrusion processes and quality control systems over many years of experience. The company provides stable and reliable winding support solutions for industries including film, optical film and lithium-ion battery separators. Whether for standard specifications or customized requirements, Jiangsu Hongkai Plastic Technology Co., Ltd. is committed to maintaining uncompromising quality and fair pricing while building long-term partnerships with customers worldwide.
The industry's lean period will eventually pass, but the choices we make regarding who to partner with during this time will determine how far we can go in the future. We are willing to draw upon our sincerity and capabilities to work hand in hand with every client to weather the cycle and welcome the next spring .
