About the PE Foam Insert Index
PackIndex FOAM tracks the material cost of a closed-cell PE foam insert — the reference protective packaging format for electronics, fragile goods, and medical devices. The 300×200×25mm reference spec covers the most common insert size. Primary driver is LDPE/LLDPE resin price.
North America Reference
| Market | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USA | $0.792 per unit | PackIndex benchmark |
| Canada | CAD converted | Live FX at PackIndex |
| Mexico | MXN converted | Live FX at PackIndex |
Latin America Reference
| Market | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | BRL converted | BRL/MXN converted |
| Mexico | MXN converted | Live rates at PackIndex |
| Colombia / Chile | COP / CLP | Live rates at PackIndex |
What a real PE Foam Insert supplier quote looks like
The PackIndex FOAM index tracks material cost only. A real delivered supplier quote for a pe foam insert typically runs 40–50% higher once conversion, overhead, and converter margin are added. Use FOAM as the material-cost anchor for benchmarking — not as the expected invoice price.
| Cost component | Typical contribution |
|---|---|
| Material (PE Foam Insert — this index) | $1.006 $/unit |
| Conversion & labour | +12–18% |
| Overhead | +8–15% |
| Converter margin | +10–18% |
| Indicative delivered quote | $1.409 – $1.510 $/unit |
The real spread varies by region, annual volume band, print/spec complexity, and freight. A quote landing more than ~50% above the FOAM index for a standard spec is worth challenging — benchmark it line-by-line with the PackIndex Quote Analyser.
Key Price Drivers
The PE Foam Insert index is driven by movements in:
LDPE LLDPE PE_FOAMTrack all drivers live on PackIndex.
Related PACKIQ Agents
| Agent | Type | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Quote Analyser | PACKIQ AI Agent | Run → |
| Negotiation Brief | PACKIQ AI Agent | Run → |
| Invoice Audit | PACKIQ AI Agent | Run → |
Common questions
How much does a pe foam insert cost?
The PackIndex FOAM index puts pe foam insert material cost at $1.006 $/unit. A real delivered supplier quote typically runs 40–50% higher once conversion, overhead, and converter margin are added.
Why is my pe foam insert quote higher than the PackIndex index?
PackIndex FOAM tracks material cost only. Conversion and labour (+12–18%), overhead (+8–15%), and converter margin (+10–18%) sit on top, so delivered quotes typically land 40–50% above the index value of $1.006.
How often is the pe foam insert price index updated?
PackIndex updates the FOAM index weekly, using verified market data and contributor Pulse signals.
Live PE Foam Insert Data on PackIndex
Full interactive charts, 12-week trend, BOM breakdown, and Pulse signals — free to browse.
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