PET Bale Prices
Indicative pricing for baled PET feedstock — clear bottle, mixed bottle and thermoform bales — published by region with movement, pricing basis and source category.
Last updated: 8 September 2026
PET Clear Bottle Bale
Latest available public observation by market
Prices from different markets may not be directly comparable because specifications, incoterms, freight, duties, quality and reporting periods differ.
WasteBaleAudit displays the latest publicly available observation for each market. Reporting dates differ because recycled-plastics markets do not have one universal live price. Every record retains its original region, currency, unit, grade and commercial basis.
| Region | Country / market | Low | High | Average | Unit | Basis | Weekly | Monthly | Direction | Effective | Observation age | Trade | Price type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | United States · California | 2 | 3 | 2.5 | US cents per pound | Basis not disclosed | — | — | Stable | 17 August 2026 | Recent observation | — | Public-source observation | Resource Recycling |
Market commentary
- North America: Stable at a low level. Pricing basis: regional curbside bale average; collection and freight basis not fully disclosed. Reported summer 2026 indication for curbside PET bales in California. Freight, deposit-system status and individual bale quality can materially affect realised pricing. Grade: curbside PET. (17 August 2026)
Only markets with a published record are listed. Regions without a verified observation are omitted rather than shown as empty placeholders.
Historical prices
Values shown in US cents per pound.
| Effective date | Low | High | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 August 2026 | 2 | 3 | 2.5 |
| 17 August 2026 | 6 | 7 | 6.5 |
PET Mixed Bottle Bale
Data not currently available.
PET Thermoform Bale
Data not currently available.
PET Bottle Bale with Labels
Latest available public observation by market
Prices from different markets may not be directly comparable because specifications, incoterms, freight, duties, quality and reporting periods differ.
WasteBaleAudit displays the latest publicly available observation for each market. Reporting dates differ because recycled-plastics markets do not have one universal live price. Every record retains its original region, currency, unit, grade and commercial basis.
| Region | Country / market | Low | High | Average | Unit | Basis | Weekly | Monthly | Direction | Effective | Observation age | Trade | Price type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Asia | China | 535 | 590 | 562.5 | USD per tonne | Basis not disclosed | — | — | Rising | 3 September 2026 | Recent observation | — | Public-source observation | OPIS public market article |
Market commentary
- Northeast Asia: Basis not disclosed. Publicly reported China PET bale assessment for material with labels. The range increased against the previous reported range of USD 535–580 per tonne as rainfall disrupted bottle collection and transportation. (3 September 2026)
Only markets with a published record are listed. Regions without a verified observation are omitted rather than shown as empty placeholders.
Historical prices
Values shown in USD per tonne.
| Effective date | Low | High | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 September 2026 | 535 | 590 | 562.5 |
PET Bottle Bale without Labels
Latest available public observation by market
Prices from different markets may not be directly comparable because specifications, incoterms, freight, duties, quality and reporting periods differ.
WasteBaleAudit displays the latest publicly available observation for each market. Reporting dates differ because recycled-plastics markets do not have one universal live price. Every record retains its original region, currency, unit, grade and commercial basis.
| Region | Country / market | Low | High | Average | Unit | Basis | Weekly | Monthly | Direction | Effective | Observation age | Trade | Price type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Asia | China | 660 | 700 | 680 | USD per tonne | Basis not disclosed | — | — | Stable | 3 September 2026 | Recent observation | — | Public-source observation | OPIS public market article |
Market commentary
- Northeast Asia: Basis not disclosed. Publicly reported China PET bale assessment for material without labels. Exact commercial basis and detailed bale specification were not disclosed. (3 September 2026)
Only markets with a published record are listed. Regions without a verified observation are omitted rather than shown as empty placeholders.
Historical prices
Values shown in USD per tonne.
| Effective date | Low | High | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 September 2026 | 660 | 700 | 680 |
Material and specification
- Bale prices depend heavily on the specification agreed between supplier and reprocessor.
- Common specification points are target polymer percentage, colour split, moisture, non-PET plastics, and prohibitive items.
- Thermoform content is priced separately from bottle content because it behaves differently in washing and extrusion.
Factors affecting the price
- Measured composition and contamination of the bale
- Bale weight, density and moisture
- Distance to the reprocessor and freight cost
- Flake and pellet price levels downstream
- Landfill or reject disposal cost
- Contract versus spot arrangements
Pricing methodology and sources
Every figure on this page comes from the WasteBaleAudit price database. Each record stores its material, grade, format, region, currency, unit, pricing basis, effective date, direction of movement and source category, and is published only after review. Prices are held in the currency and unit in which they were reported and are never silently converted. We do not republish paywalled assessments from licensed price services. Where no verified figure exists for a period, the page shows a gap or "verified price update pending" rather than an estimate.
Read the full methodology and the data sources register.
Prices shown are indicative market observations and may differ according to specification, contamination, volume, location, freight, payment terms and contractual conditions.
Frequently asked questions
- Why do two PET bales fetch different prices?
- Because composition differs. A few percentage points of contamination materially change yield, and yield determines what a reprocessor can pay.
- How can I check bale composition before agreeing a price?
- Use BaleScan Pro to photograph the bale and produce a composition record, then use the Bale Valuation Calculator to test the commercial outcome.