1. Overview of raw material price fluctuations in 2026
The year 2026 marks the... strong fluctuations in the price of raw materials Globally, particularly in industries such as steel, plastics, energy, and building materials, the general trend is Prices increased slightly to moderately.However, the trends were uneven across different product groups.
According to market reports, raw material prices are being affected by several factors, such as:
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Supply chain disruption
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Production cut policies in major countries
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Energy and transportation costs are rising.
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Trends in trade protectionism and environmental taxation
This will cause production costs for businesses to continue to rise in 2026.
2. Steel and raw material prices are rising again.
The steel industry is one of the sectors that clearly reflects fluctuations in raw material prices.
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Steel prices in 2026 are projected. increase by approximately 6–7% thanks to recovering domestic demand and production restrictions from China.
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Prices of iron ore and coal – key input materials – also tended to rise slightly due to controlled supply.
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In early 2026, the price of construction steel had Continuous increases due to high input costs.
In addition, the steel market also experiences fluctuations over time:
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Early in the year: prices stable or slightly decreasing.
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Mid-year and late-year: a clear upward trend is returning.
👉 Điều này cho thấy nguyên vật liệu không chỉ tăng mà còn cyclical fluctuationsThis makes it difficult to estimate costs.
3. Prices of plastic resins and petrochemical raw materials are under upward pressure.
Not only steel, but the plastics industry is also recording an upward price trend:
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Plastic resin prices in various regions recovery due to rising input costs
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Oil prices and the prices of petrochemical derivatives continue to directly impact plastic prices.
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Supply is not yet fully stable following global economic fluctuations.
For plastic manufacturing businesses, this is the factor that leads to:
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Profit margins are shrinking.
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Pressure to adjust selling prices is increasing.
4. The main reasons for the increase in raw material prices.
4.1. Global Production Policy
The fact that major countries like China are cutting steel production to protect the environment has led to reduce supply, driving prices up.
4.2. Logistics and Energy Costs
Transportation and fuel costs remain high, directly impacting the price of imported raw materials.
4.3. The need for recovery after decline
The recovery of the construction, infrastructure, and industrial manufacturing sectors has led to a sharp increase in demand for raw materials.
4.4. Trade and Tax Policy
Policies such as carbon tax-based anti-dumping measures (CBAMs) or anti-dumping measures increase the price of imported raw materials.
5. Impact on manufacturing businesses
Fluctuations in raw material prices in 2026 will create many challenges:
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Increased production costs
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Difficult to control product costs.
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Price competition pressure
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Risks in signing long-term contracts
However, this also presents an opportunity for businesses:
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Supply chain restructuring
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Searching for alternative sources of raw materials.
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Using technology to optimize costs.
6. Solutions for businesses in the face of fluctuating raw material prices.
To adapt to the situation in 2026, businesses should:
✔ Chủ động nguồn cung
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Sign a long-term contract with the supplier.
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Diversify import sources.
✔ Tối ưu tồn kho
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Maintain reasonable levels of raw material inventory.
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Avoid becoming dependent on short-term fluctuations.
✔ Kiểm soát chi phí sản xuất
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Automation applications
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Optimizing production processes
✔ Cập nhật thị trường liên tục
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Track price fluctuations on a quarterly basis.
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Flexible financial planning
7. Forecast of raw material trends at the end of 2026
Experts have stated:
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The price of raw materials may continued to increase slightly but more steadily.
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The market is entering a supply-demand equilibrium phase.
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Businesses that adapt quickly will have a significant competitive advantage.
Conclude
The year 2026 is the period volatile but trending towards recovery. of the raw materials market. Rising prices are not only a challenge but also an opportunity for businesses to improve management capabilities, optimize costs, and achieve sustainable development.
