Plastic Industry Updates & Resources

On July 17, Hong Kong stocks related to new consumption continued to decline. As of the time of reporting, Pop Mart (09992.HK) fell by over 2.5%, with a transaction volume exceeding 3.2 billion Hong Kong dollars, and the latest market value is 330.6 billion Hong Kong dollars. According to Caixin, on the first trading day after Pop Mart released a positive profit forecast announcement (July 16), the number of shares sold short surged to 2.4956 million, more than six times the 342,000 shares on the previous trading day (July 15), reaching a new high since June 20. Goldman Sachs pointed out in its latest research report that although Pop Mart's performance exceeded the general expectations of sell-side analysts, it may only "roughly meet" the high expectations that buy-side investors had previously raised to very high levels. JPMorgan noted that the net profit growth forecasted by Pop Mart actually falls at the lower end of the previous buy-side expectation range (approximately 4.5 billion to 5.5 billion yuan). Looking back at the development trajectory of Pop Mart, from January 2, 2024, to now, its stock price has increased by over 1000%, with an increase of nearly 200% in 2025 alone. In the first quarter of this year, Pop Mart's performance has shown explosive growth. On April 22, it announced that its overall revenue for the first quarter of 2025 increased by 165%-170% year-on-year, with revenue in China increasing by 95%-100% and overseas revenue increasing by 475%-480%. In terms of revenue by region, the Asia-Pacific (referring to countries and regions in Asia and Oceania excluding China) increased by 345%-350% year-on-year, the Americas increased by 895%-900%, and Europe increased by 600%-605%. At the annual performance briefing held in April, Pop Mart's Chairman and CEO Wang Ning stated that the company's performance growth in 2024 exceeded expectations, mainly due to the successful implementation of its internationalization strategy, which has become the second growth curve for the company. Looking ahead to 2025, the management team is full of confidence, planning to achieve a year-on-year sales growth of over 50% based on the high base in 2024, with overseas sales expected to grow by over 100%. The goal is to reach an overall sales amount of 20 billion yuan, with overseas sales exceeding 10 billion yuan. The expansion of plastic demand behind the tide of trendy toys. The astonishing growth curve of Pop Mart has directly driven a massive demand for high-end plastic materials. The products rely on materials such as PVC and polypropylene.Safety, plasticity, environmental protectionWith stringent standards, the production of plastic products in China has reached 2024.77.076 million tonsThe export value has surpassed the 100 billion US dollar mark.The rise of high-value-added consumer products like Pop Mart is forcing the upstream materials to upgrade. It is particularly noteworthy that Pop Mart's overseas revenue has experienced explosive growth, and its products must comply with strict standards such as the EU REACH regulations. This directly drives the demand for environmentally friendly plasticizers—medical-grade epoxy soybean oil and citrate plasticizers are growing rapidly in the market.8.5%​The average annual growth rate of the expansion is expected to exceed the scale by 2030.12 billion yuan​。 The growing pains of industrial transformation under high environmental pressure. With the global "plastic restriction order" escalating, traditional plastic enterprises are facing a life-and-death test. ​Policy-driven pressureChina's "Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan" clearly restricts highly toxic plasticizers, while the EU REACH regulation establishes high trade barriers. ​Rising costsIn 2025, the industry average gross profit margin will drop from 18% to 15%, and the net profit margin will fall below 6%, putting significant pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises. ​Technical BreakthroughLeading companies like Wanhua Chemical and Jinhai Technology are seizing the opportunity by developing bio-based materials. Jinhai Technology's net profit in the first half of 2025 is expected to grow by 45% to 71% against the trend. The shortcomings of the plastic recycling system have highlighted the urgency of transformation. Currently, the recycling costs are high and the application rate of recycled materials is low, and the industry's circular economy is still in a state of "The road is long and difficult."the critical stage of the battle"。 The polarized industry differentiation of ice and fire. The performance of plastic enterprises in 2025 shows dramatic differentiation. This differentiation confirms the structural transformation in the industry—high-end products can achieve a gross profit margin of over 30% (such as Wanhua Chemical), while general-purpose plastics are mired in a surplus of production capacity. The operating rate of the polypropylene industry has already fallen below70%​However, specialty materials such as metallocene polypropylene and ultra-high transparency polypropylene are still in short supply. Technological breakthroughs lead to the reshaping of industry chain value. The path to a breakup has become clear. ​Biobased alternativesLiancheng Chemical's bio-based plasticizer production capacity will double to 200,000 tons/year, and Wanhua Chemical is planning a citric acid ester production line. ​Specialized breakthroughThe demand for anti-impact copolymer polypropylene driven by new energy vehicles will see the share of environmentally friendly plasticizers in the automotive sector reach 2030.35%​​ ​Digital cost reductionEnterprises that use AI to optimize production have reduced procurement costs.5%-8%​Relieve the pressure of raw material price fluctuations. The stringent requirements of Pop Mart and others for food-grade safety standards and low-carbon materials are being transmitted through the industrial chain, pushing plastic companies from "Price competition"Turn"Technical competition”。 Future Vision: The Double Helix of Green and High-End When Pop Mart plans to achieve in 202520 billion in salesAt this time, behind it is a demand for high-end plastic materials worth hundreds of billions; as Wanhua Chemical accelerates the development of bio-based polyurethane at its R&D center, the upgrading bottlenecks in industries such as trendy toys, healthcare, and new energy are being broken one by one. The future of the plastic industry depends on whether it can...Environmental compliance Technology premiumFind a balance in between. Just as the polypropylene industry has opened up high-end markets through metallocene materials, China's plastic processing industry is now at a point of...World Factory"toward"Source of Innovation"The critical point of the leap. This green revolution is not only related to the survival of enterprises but will also reshape the competitive landscape of global industrial chains."

In recent years, the competition within the textile industry has intensified, and this year it has faced unprecedented internal and external challenges. It is clear to anyone with insight that limitless competition will only harm the industry, and even the last ones standing may not necessarily emerge as the winners.   Unprecedented wave of production shutdowns This summer, the textile industry experienced an unprecedented wave of production stoppages. In recent years, regions with rapid capacity growth, such as Xinjiang, northern Jiangsu, and Henan, have already seen significant shutdowns. These shutdowns also include some machines that were recently put into operation in the past two years, which have higher profitability than older machines and face substantial cost recovery pressure. They will only choose to shut down as a last resort. Some traditional textile clusters in the Yangtze River Delta region are relatively better off, with smaller scales of production stoppages. These companies have been operating for many years, so their customer base and product sales channels are relatively more stable. They also have a certain level of technological accumulation, allowing them to produce higher-end products, but there are still some measures in place to reduce production. According to normal market trends, this wave of production halts is expected to last for at least another month.   Unprecedented external challenges In addition, the black swan events that have occurred from time to time over the years, along with the increasingly advanced textile industry overseas, have brought unprecedented challenges to domestic textile enterprises. In terms of tariffs, the indiscriminate taxation imposed by the United States on the entire world is something that most people did not anticipate. As one of the most important textile consumption markets globally, the U.S. has universally increased tariffs on all textile-exporting countries. This not only has a significant impact on clients in the U.S., but also affects businesses engaged in domestic trade and those in other countries whose impact was originally minimal. When the U.S. reduces its orders, the companies that previously relied on U.S. orders will compete in other markets, driving prices lower and lower. In terms of shipping, the Red Sea crisis has not only increased freight costs due to the need to detour around the Cape of Good Hope, but it has also lengthened the shipping time, resulting in delays in the recipient receiving their goods. This, in turn, has effectively extended the payment terms and compressed cash flow. In terms of homomorphic competition, the textile industry in Southeast Asia and Central Asian countries has experienced rapid development in recent years and is naturally not satisfied with merely being an OEM. They are beginning to extend upstream and downstream in the industrial chain. If it comes to direct competition, Chinese enterprises are certainly not afraid, but they will also want to protect their domestic industries. This year, India has implemented restrictions on the import of Chinese textile machinery.   The survivor is not necessarily the king. There is a saying in the market: "The remaining ones are kings." It means that in the end of competition, the surviving enterprises can capture most of the market and become the winners. In the past few decades, there have been many examples of textile companies that turned around with just a few orders when they were in dire straits, so many textile companies hold on to this idea as well. Many textile enterprises are holding on, thinking that if they endure this period, everything will get better. But times have changed; in the current situation, merely surviving does not guarantee success. Currently, in the textile market, the production capacity of conventional products is the least valuable, and it is very difficult to eliminate this capacity. This surplus situation is expected to continue for a long time. Under the conditions of excess capacity, even if the market really shows signs of recovery, unless there are some companies that have already established a competitive advantage in certain aspects, it will be very difficult for most textile enterprises to earn excess profits.   The urgency to combat involution is imminent. In March of this year, the government work report explicitly emphasized the need to adjust the competition characterized by "involution"; on June 27, the new "Anti-Unfair Competition Law" was revised and will come into effect on October 15 of this year; on July 1, the Central Financial Committee meeting again proposed "anti-involution" competition, addressing the issue of chaotic low-price competition among enterprises and promoting the orderly exit of backward production capacity. On the same day, the magazine "Qiushi" published an article titled "Deeply Understand and Comprehensively Rectify 'Involutionary' Competition." The article states that "involutionary" competition confines various entities to a low-price, low-quality, and ineffective competition, breaking through the boundaries and bottom lines of market competition, disrupting market order, and allowing its development will lead to endless harm. In the case where the market's self-regulation fails, it is hoped that administrative measures can bring the textile industry back to a healthy development track.

On July 13, the Sichuan Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment issued a notice stating that, in accordance with the relevant regulations of the approval procedures for environmental impact assessments of construction projects, after review, it intends to make a decision on the approval of the special bamboo fiber functional material project of Sichuan Huanlong Ecological Technology Co., Ltd. at the Bamboo Health Bamboo Industry Park. At this point, the 1.5 billion yuan bamboo fiber project has obtained its "permit to start production," and another paper pulp molding large factory is about to be put into operation. This is also a milestone moment for the bamboo fiber industry in Sichuan! Sichuan Huanlong Ecological Technology Co., Ltd. is located in Meishan City, Sichuan Province. The total investment for the approved project is 1.5 billion yuan, which includes the construction of a production line for 250,000 tons/year (dry weight) of bleached bamboo pulp, a production line for 204,000 tons/year (dry weight) of fluff pulp (high-performance bamboo fiber water-absorbing substrate), and a production line for 46,000 tons of molded paper pulp specifically for tableware (dry weight, actual dryness 48%), as well as supporting public utilities, environmental protection, and other facilities. This project relies on Sichuan's abundant bamboo resource advantages. Once completed, it can replace approximately 300,000 tons of wood pulp raw materials annually (calculated at a 1:1.3 bamboo to wood conversion rate). In the context of the ongoing deepening of the "plastic ban," the breakthrough in the production capacity of bamboo fiber molded tableware-specific pulp provides a key raw material guarantee for the environmentally friendly packaging industry. "We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Finnish National Technical Research Centre regarding the cooperative research on bamboo biomass refining technology and the full-value utilization of bamboo." The party secretary of Huanlong Company stated that in the next steps, both parties will rely on their respective advantages to carry out research on bamboo biomass refining technology, technology for the full-value utilization of bamboo, and the development of high value-added bamboo products, gradually forming a distinctive industrial system for bamboo biomass refining and full-value utilization of bamboo. Huanlong Ecological is a subsidiary of Huanlong Group, established in 1987. Huanlong Group was originally a global leader in the production of paper blankets and owns two major companies: Sichuan Huanlong New Materials Co., Ltd. (the parent company of Huanlong Ecological) and Huanlong Holdings Limited. In 2011, Huanlong Group established Sichuan Huanlong New Materials Co., Ltd. to develop a full bamboo fiber industry chain. In 2022, Huanlong Holdings successfully went public in Hong Kong. In 2023, the Banbu Health Bamboo Industrial Park officially commenced operations. It is worth noting that Huanlong has also jointly established Guangxi Zhuri Ecological Technology Co., Ltd. with Ningbo Jia, with both parties holding 41% of the shares. The first phase of the project has an annual production capacity of 200,000 tons of chemical bamboo pulp (used for making bamboo boards), 200,000 tons of chemical bamboo boards, and 100,000 tons of mechanical bamboo pulp. All chemical bamboo pulp will be used to produce chemical bamboo boards for high-end paper product enterprises within the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, while mechanical bamboo pulp will be directly supplied to downstream pulp molding enterprises within the park. The second phase of the project will have an annual production capacity of 200,000 tons of chemical bamboo pulp (used for producing household paper), 200,000 tons of high-grade household paper, and post-processing, with 200,000 tons of chemical bamboo pulp being converted into high-end paper products within the project. It is expected that the Huanlong Ecological and Guangxi Zhuri Phase I projects will be completed and put into operation by 2026. After the projects are put into operation, Huanlong is expected to become the largest bamboo fiber chain leader in the country.

Recently, many places around the world have been subjected to high-temperature "baking" tests. According to statistics from the Manzhouli Customs,In the first half of 2025, the export of "cooling appliances" (air conditioners, refrigerators, fans) through the Manzhouli Port amounted to 520 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 22.4%.The monthly export value has continued to grow for five consecutive months, reaching a historical high of 130 million yuan in May. Data from the China Household Electrical Appliances Association shows that from January to May 2025,China's air conditioning exports to the EU and the UK reached 1.388 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 20.25%; the export volume reached 7.9682 million units, a year-on-year increase of 20.14%.。 The data from the General Administration of Customs shows that China's export of household appliances is in a high base situation from last year.From January to May this year, a total of 18,425,300 units were exported, an increase of 6.1% year-on-year. Behind the rising export data, there are both external factors such as the soaring temperatures caused by global warming, and more importantly, the accelerated overseas expansion of Chinese home appliance companies. These companies are investing in establishing bases around the world, promoting their own brands, and exploring untapped market areas. Especially in emerging markets like Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa, these regions have become key battlegrounds for home appliance companies "going abroad." According to a report by the China Industry Research Institute, Hisense Group announced on July 11 this year that its factory in Algeria, built in cooperation with the local Condor Group, has officially launched its first large-scale export operation.Exporting over 5,000 locally produced televisions and washing machines to strategic markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) such as Egypt and Tunisia.。 Midea Group has also been active in South America, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and other regions. On June 16, representatives from Midea and a delegation from the government of Minas Gerais State in Brazil announced four new investment projects in the state. Source: Midea Group official Weibo. As a strategic market for Midea, Brazil has seen the company deepen its supply chain manufacturing layout in recent years. On June 16, representatives from Midea announced four new investment projects in partnership with the government delegation of Minas Gerais State, totaling 198 million reais (approximately 258 million yuan). The new investments will include four projects: a logistics distribution center, a Welling motor factory, a Midea industrial EPS factory in Brazil, and...The new refrigerator factory is planned to officially start production in the first quarter of 2028. In the first half of the year, Midea increased its investment in brand building in South America, Southeast Asia, and other regions, actively expanding sales channels. It held a smart home appliance product launch in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, and also hosted the 2025 Toshiba product launch in Manila, Philippines. Peru is an important part of the Latin American market. In May of this year, Midea held its first product launch event in Lima, the capital of Peru.Since its establishment at the beginning of 2024, Midea's Peru branch has quickly established sales channels for core categories such as smart air conditioners, large-capacity refrigerators, and washing machines, with all products being localized and improved to suit Peru's climate and consumer habits.。 In recent years, Haier has been focusing on brand internationalization and has intensified its efforts to promote its independent brand in Southeast Asia. On May 28, a brand launch and new product release conference was held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, announcing...Haier brand officially enters the Vietnamese market.At the event, three new high-end washing machine models from Haier were launched, and a strategic cooperation was announced with DMX, a leading home appliance retail platform in Vietnam. On May 28, Haier Smart Home announced in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, that the Haier brand officially entered the Vietnamese market. Image source: Haier Group WeChat Official Account. The prospectus of Aux Electric shows that as of the three months ending March 31, 2025, overseas revenue accounted for 57.1%. Having tasted the "sweetness" of going abroad, Aux has also increased its globalization efforts this year. In April, the AUX overseas OBM dealer conference was held in Pattaya, Thailand, attracting air conditioning industry partners from over 30 countries around the world.As an important overseas manufacturing base of AUX Group, the AUX Thailand factory will continue to enhance its localization operational capabilities to support production and delivery in the regional market. AUX Air Conditioner officially enters the UAE market. Image source: Screenshot from AUX Air Conditioner's WeChat official account. It's also April.AUX Air Conditioning announces its official establishment in the UAE market.AUX held its first dealer conference in Dubai, where itC-Series Through localized innovative design, it fully meets the multiple expectations of Middle Eastern consumers for product durability, quiet comfort, and easy installation. From May 20 to 22, AUX Group showcased its full range of smart air conditioning solutions for home and commercial use at the 8th Nigeria International Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Exhibition (MEGACLIMA), a benchmark event in the non-refrigeration industry.AUX is engaging in in-depth discussions with multi-national distributors regarding customized services to accumulate strategic resources for the ongoing expansion into the West African market.。 Driven by global high temperatures and changes in market demand, exports have become an important engine for the growth of China's home appliance industry. In the face of intense competition in the international market, domestic electrical enterprises need to further strengthen brand building, enhance independent innovation capabilities, and ensure steady progress in a complex and ever-changing international environment.

In July 2025, the parent company of Nezha Automobile, Hozon New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd., officially launched a pre-recruitment for restructuring intention investors. Interested strategic investors can submit pre-registration materials through the Alibaba Asset Platform starting from July 10. This move comes just 8 months after its suspension of production in November 2024, bringing a possibility of rebirth for this company that was once hailed as a "dark horse in the new energy sector." From establishment to the accumulation of global. Image source: Hezhong New Energy Management Aulton New Energy was established on October 16, 2014, with the registration authority being the Jiaxing Market Supervision Administration. The legal representative is the chairman, Fang Yunzhu, and the registered capital has reached 2.84 billion yuan. It is located in Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province. As a foreign-invested unlisted joint-stock company, the most remarkable aspect of its development trajectory is the gradually constructed industrial network covering both domestic and international markets. As of May 1, 2025, the core assets of Huzhong New Energy include fixed assets, machinery and equipment, intellectual property, and accounts receivable. Among them, fixed assets encompass 350 acres of industrial land located in the Tongxiang Economic Development Zone; machinery and equipment include integrated workshop production lines, production molds, transportation tools, and experimental equipment; intellectual property is primarily based on independently developed software products and the registered trademark "Nezha Automobile." In terms of industrial layout, Hozon New Energy has formed a dual-drive pattern of "deep cultivation in the domestic market + expansion overseas." Domestically, in addition to the Tongxiang base, it also has two major production bases: the Yichun base in Jiangxi, which was put into operation in 2022, is an "all-ecological smart factory" meeting Industry 4.0 standards, with an annual production capacity of 100,000 vehicles; the Nanning base in Guangxi, in which it holds an 85.3% stake, also has an annual production capacity of 100,000 vehicles and is positioned as an export KD parts base for overseas markets. Additionally, there are three core component factories in Tongcheng, Fengtai, and Fengyang, creating a relatively complete supply chain system. Image source: Nezha Auto Nezha's layout in overseas markets is more forward-looking, with factories in Southeast Asia located in Bangkok, Thailand, Jakarta, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Among them, the Bangkok factory and the Jakarta factory are set to start production in 2024. Both factories adopt the CKD (Completely Knocked Down) assembly model to achieve localized production, laying the foundation for their globalization strategy. The Malaysia factory began construction in 2023 and is expected to commence production this year. Nazhah has a certain brand accumulation in the Southeast Asian market, and its sales performance in Southeast Asia is quite impressive. According to relevant data, the delivery volume of the Nazhah AYA series in Southeast Asia exceeded 50,000 units in 2023, accounting for 52.0% of the Southeast Asian small pure electric vehicle market. In the entire year of 2023, Nazhah Automobile's market share in Thailand's electric vehicle market reached 12%. Reorganized core values: multiple foundations of qualifications, technology, and market. Regarding this restructuring, the manager of Hozon Auto has clearly stated that the core investment value of Hozon Auto can be regarded as a "hidden gem" in the field of new energy vehicles. As a rare "dual-qualification" enterprise in the domestic new energy passenger vehicle sector, Hozon Auto is not only one of the first companies to receive dual certification from the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, but also relies on independent research and development to master the "Shanhai + Yunhe" vehicle platform and the "Haozhi + Tiangong Battery" core technology, thus establishing its core technological barriers. Since its launch in 2018, the "Neta" brand has sold over 460,000 vehicles, with annual sales surpassing 150,000 units in 2022. Its product matrix covers the mainstream price range of 80,000 to 200,000 yuan, including multiple models such as Neta V/AYA, X, L, S series, and GT, accumulating a solid user base. Additionally, Hozon New Energy's overseas first-mover advantage is also prominent. Through localized production in CKD factories in Thailand and Indonesia, Neta has seized the initiative in the Southeast Asian market, laying a foundation for global expansion in terms of capacity and channels. The more critical production resumption potential of Hozon Auto lies in the fact that its production line equipment has remained in good condition since its shutdown in November 2024 for 8 months. More than 400 core team members, including management and technical personnel, are still retained, which means that with external resource injection, it has the ability to quickly resume production and effectively maintain existing market resources and industry position. In addition, the company's base in Tongxiang, Zhejiang, has been recognized as one of the "Top Ten Counties (Cities) for Business Environment" in 2024, providing stable policy and legal guarantees for its post-restructuring development. Regarding the production resumption prospects of Nezha Auto, the management of Hozon New Energy holds an optimistic attitude. They stated that the current production line equipment is operating normally, the core team is stable, and as long as external conditions are met, production can be quickly resumed, regaining market competitiveness. The opening of this pre-recruitment provides a market-oriented path for Hozon New Energy to introduce strategic investors and resolve its operational difficulties. For capital interested in entering the new energy vehicle sector, Hozon New Energy possesses dual qualifications, core technologies, a mature brand, and a global layout, making it a relatively promising investment opportunity. Currently, both within and outside the industry are observing and anticipating; if Hozon New Energy successfully restructures, it may usher in the hope of a "rebirth."