From February to April 2026, the prices of domestic food-grade PP (polypropylene) and PE (polyethylene) core raw materials have continued to soar, with PP increasing by 32% and PE by 28%, reaching a new high in the past three years. Coupled with the tightening of recycled material supply and the rise in logistics and labor costs, this has directly impacted the food contact-grade plastic zipper industry chain in areas such as food packaging, preservation bags, sealed containers, and snack bags, posing severe challenges to both the export and domestic markets.

Core reasons for this round of price hikes:

1. Crude oil prices have been fluctuating at high levels (Brent crude oil maintained at $85 - $95 per barrel), and upstream petrochemical plants have been undergoing concentrated maintenance, leading to a tight supply of basic resins.

2. The demand for odorless, non-toxic, and high-purity raw materials that meet FDA and EU 10/2011 standards has surged in the food-grade plastic sector, but the capacity of dedicated materials is insufficient, resulting in significant premiums.

3. The recycling system for food-grade recycled plastics is incomplete, and the gap in compliant recycled materials has widened, forcing enterprises to rely on new materials and further driving up costs.

Industry Status:

Cost Side: The production cost of food-grade plastic zippers (per meter) has risen from 0.35 yuan to 0.46 - 0.48 yuan, an increase of over 30%. The gross profit margin of small and medium-sized zipper factories has been compressed to below 5%, and some small factories have suspended orders and limited production to maintain prices.

Order Side: Orders from foreign trade food packaging enterprises (exporting to the EU and North America) have been postponed, and customers are demanding a re-calculation of quotations. Domestic supermarkets and snack brands have begun to reduce the use of zipper packaging and switch to simple heat sealing or zipper-free alternatives.

Compliance Pressure: Food-grade zippers must meet FDA, GB 4806.7, and EU food contact standards and cannot be downgraded to use ordinary materials, leaving no buffer space for price hikes.

Industry Forecast: Raw material prices are unlikely to fall in the next 2-3 months, and the terminal prices of food plastic zippers will increase by 15% - 25%. Leading enterprises are accelerating the layout of food-grade recycled PP/PE and bio-based PLA zippers, while small and medium-sized factories face the risk of elimination, further concentrating the industry.