Overview
- U.S. prices are expected to start increasing in April after late‑February strikes on Iran prompted new limits on the Strait of Hormuz that disrupted oil flows.
- Brent crude has climbed more than 50 percent since early March and bottle‑resin prices have jumped a little over 30 percent since late February, with plastic producers announcing hikes.
- Syracuse University’s Patrick Penfield expects at least a 5 percent rise for plastic bottled drinks this month, with larger increases possible if crude moves higher.
- India has already seen roughly an 11 percent rise in packaged drinking water prices as plastic input costs surged, with some bottles selling near ₹20 per liter.
- U.S. shoppers may feel a slower or smaller hit because ethane and bottle making are largely domestic, yet analysts still see costs passing through into spring and summer.