Polystyrene (GPPS, HIPS & EPS)

General-purpose and high-impact polystyrene by melt flow, and EPS beads by size

Polystyrene is sold as three products. General-purpose polystyrene (GPPS, also called crystal polystyrene) is the clear, stiff, brittle homopolymer used for transparent food containers, disposable cutlery, CD-style cases, light diffusers and XPS insulation board; high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) carries a polybutadiene rubber phase that makes it opaque and tough, for refrigerator liners, appliance housings, yoghurt cups, vending cups and extruded sheet for thermoforming; expandable polystyrene (EPS) is bead polymerised with pentane as a blowing agent and is moulded into insulation boards, protective packaging and fish boxes. GPPS and HIPS are graded on melt flow index (ISO 1133, 200 °C/5 kg), from low-flow extrusion and sheet grades to high-flow injection grades, then on Vicat softening temperature (ISO 306) for heat resistance and, for HIPS, on notched impact strength (ISO 179 Charpy or ISO 180 Izod). EPS is graded on bead size, from fine beads for thin-wall packaging to coarse beads for low-density insulation blocks, and on flame-retardant or standard formulation. Customs puts EPS at HS 3903.11 and GPPS and HIPS at 3903.19. UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations under HS 3903, which also carries SAN and ABS copolymers, total USD 16.16 billion and 8.80 million MT across 76 reporting countries, led by Korea at USD 3.25 billion and 1.92 million MT (an average of USD 1,697/MT), Taiwan at USD 2.21 billion and 1.52 million MT (USD 1,455/MT), the USA at USD 1.44 billion, China at USD 1.40 billion and 0.91 million MT (USD 1,538/MT) and the Netherlands at USD 0.94 billion and 0.48 million MT (USD 1,951/MT). ABS runs well above commodity GPPS and HIPS, so the heading averages sit above what a sheet or cup maker pays for polystyrene alone.

The buyer is a food-packaging and disposables moulder, a sheet extruder and thermoformer, an appliance maker, an XPS or EPS insulation converter, a packaging moulder or a distributor, and it buys against the grade its line is set to, because a change in melt flow or rubber content shifts cycle time, gloss and drop-impact. GPPS and HIPS move in 25 kg bags on pallets or 1,100–1,250 kg jumbo bags, about 20–22 MT to a 40-ft container; EPS beads contain pentane and ship as dangerous goods (UN 2211, Class 9) in octabins or lined boxes, with the forwarder's hazardous-cargo acceptance. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers polystyrene from the offtake traders of Asian, European and American producers and from trader parcels of prime material, against the producer's certificate of analysis, a food-contact declaration of compliance for packaging grades, and a certificate of origin. Several importing markets apply anti-dumping duties on polystyrene from named origins, so the buyer confirms the duty position at destination before an origin is fixed. Parcels run from a single container to monthly programmes on FOB, CFR and CIF terms. Send the grade you run today, its melt flow and whether it is GPPS, HIPS or EPS, the food-contact or flame-retardant standard you need and the monthly volume, and we will work an origin and a landed number to it.

Need the ship as well? Our chartering desk prices part cargo and parcel space on LaycanDesk.

Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.