EU Launches Tariff Review on Electric Vehicles! Tesla's Shanghai Factory Reaches Key Milestone! Alpla Secures Funding Support

International News Highlights:

Raw Material News - Aptyx Expands Precision Extrusion Capabilities through Acquisition of Argos

Automotive News-The EU has launched its first review of tariffs on electric vehicles made in China.

Electronic News The official price of the iPhone 17 Pro Max has been reduced by 300 yuan.

Packaging NewsApra has secured funding and launched a new recycling unit to promote food-grade materials.HDPE Technology Development

Medical News - Renolit Splits Medical Division into Independent Company, Transition to Begin in Two Phases in 2026

Macroeconomic News-The Thai side claims that Cambodia is deploying forces in the border area. Cambodia reaffirms its firm commitment to implementing the ceasefire agreement.

The following are details of international news:

The EU has initiated its first review of tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.

According to news from Aikesen Environmental Technology's European station, the European Commission has initiated its first formal review of anti-subsidy tariffs on electric vehicles manufactured in China, focusing on Volkswagen's joint venture in Anhui—Volkswagen Anhui. Previously, the company had proposed replacing tariffs with minimum pricing. The review process was announced in the EU's official gazette on December 4, 2025, and targets models such as the Cupra Tavascan SUV produced in China and exported to Europe. The review will last 12 to 15 months and aims to assess whether the minimum import price is feasible and equivalent to the current additional tariff of 20.7% plus a standard tariff of 10%.

2. Apra receives funding support and launches a new recycling unit to advance food-grade HDPE technology development.

Apura has taken a significant step in the field of sustainable packaging: it has received a government-funded grant and established a new subsidiary focusing on recycling, specifically developing food-grade HDPE recycling processes. As a leader in the global packaging and recycling industry, Apura is developing a long-term, forward-looking solution to produce high-quality, food-safe recycled HDPE (rHDPE), addressing a critical gap in the plastic circular economy.

Aptyx expands precision extrusion capabilities through the acquisition of Argos.

Aptyx, a leader in the design, development, and manufacturing of complex devices and components for the life sciences industry, has announced the acquisition of Argos, a precision extrusion company based in Massachusetts. This acquisition establishes a new Center of Excellence for precision extrusion, adding immediate capacity, advanced technology, and in-house engineering expertise to support interventional innovation. Gregg Tobin, President and CEO of Aptyx, stated, "This marks another milestone in our growth strategy, further enhancing our ability to provide integrated expertise and innovation for our OEM life sciences customers. This new center perfectly complements our Interventional Center of Excellence in Charlotte, where we have a long history of supporting complex transcatheter implants and delivery systems from early design to finished device manufacturing."

According to reports, the EU plans to relax the "2035 ban on fossil fuel vehicles," allowing car manufacturers to use biofuels or synthetic fuel engines.

According to automotive media outlet Drive, multiple EU commissioners revealed today that the EU is set to weaken the planned ban on fuel-powered cars scheduled for 2035. According to the report, one named commissioner and two anonymous sources confirmed: "If car manufacturers use zero-emission or low-emission biofuels or synthetic fuels, they will be able to continue legally registering in the EU after 2035."

5. Renolit spins off its medical division into an independent company, initiating a two-phase transition in 2026.

Global supplier of plastic films, sheets, and other polymer products, Renolit, recently announced the spin-off of its healthcare business unit. The group stated that Renolit Healthcare will be established as an independent company in two phases starting in 2026, and it will remain part of the Renolit Group system. Renolit indicated that this strategic decision aims to promote the precise development of its two major business sectors. In the future, Renolit SE will focus on its core industrial business, while Renolit Healthcare will concentrate fully on the healthcare industry. This healthcare business sector primarily provides polymer-based materials and products for infusion, transfusion, dialysis systems, and biotechnology applications.

Overseas Macro Market Information:

The Thai side claims that Cambodia has deployed troops in the border area, while the Cambodian side reiterates its firm commitment to implementing the ceasefire agreement.

On the 8th local time, the First Army Region of Thailand stated that they had received military reports regarding the deployment of Cambodian troops along the border in Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand. This action by Cambodia poses a threat to Thailand's sovereignty and affects the safety of local residents, which is inconsistent with the peace agreement previously signed between Thailand and Cambodia. Cambodian Ministry of Defense spokesperson Mali Sukhchara stated that the Cambodian military has not taken any actions that violate the ceasefire agreement and joint declaration.

[The official price of the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max model has been reduced by 300 yuan]

On December 8th, Apple's official Tmall flagship store launched a year-end promotion. From December 8th to 14th, after applying an additional 300 yuan Apple surprise coupon, the iPhone 17 Pro is priced from 8,699 yuan, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max is priced from 9,699 yuan.

Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory officially rolled out its 4 millionth vehicle.

On December 8, Tesla's 4 millionth China-made Tesla officially rolled off the production line, a Starry Gold Model Y L. According to Tesla, it took less than 14 months to go from 3 million to 4 million, and over the past 6 years, the Shanghai Gigafactory has contributed nearly half of Tesla's global electric vehicle deliveries.

[Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Meeting: Adhere to Demand-Driven Growth and Build a Strong Domestic Market]

On December 8, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a meeting to analyze and study the economic work for 2026. The meeting emphasized the need to adhere to a domestic demand-driven approach to build a strong domestic market; adhere to innovation-driven strategies to accelerate the cultivation and expansion of new drivers of growth; adhere to reform and overcoming challenges to enhance the momentum and vitality of high-quality development; adhere to opening up to the outside world to promote win-win cooperation in multiple fields; adhere to coordinated development to promote urban-rural integration and regional linkage; adhere to the "dual carbon" goals to drive a comprehensive green transition; adhere to prioritizing people's livelihoods by striving to do more practical things for the people; and adhere to maintaining the bottom line to actively and prudently resolve risks in key areas.

"Xiamen's 14th Five-Year Plan Suggestions: Improve the Xiamen-Taiwan maritime and air direct transportation system to build a 'Xiamen-Taiwan-Global' corridor."

The Xiamen Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China has released recommendations for the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan for the national economic and social development of Xiamen. It mentions accelerating the creation of a cross-strait common market, optimizing the business environment related to Taiwan, exploring economic and trade systems that allow the free flow of goods and open access between Xiamen and Taiwan, and establishing a pilot city for cross-strait standard convergence. The development of the Taiwan Business Development Service Center in the Xiamen Free Trade Zone will be enhanced, and the "Cross-Strait Single Window" one-stop government service will be improved. The cross-strait sea and air direct transportation systems will be refined to create a "Xiamen-Taiwan-Global" channel. The optimization of "Three Links" and "Mini Three Links" direct shipping routes will be pursued, the "Southbound Corridor" for cross-strait maritime express shipments will be expanded, the capacity of the Xiamen-Taiwan passenger roll-on/roll-off shipping route will be updated, and a cross-strait e-commerce distribution center will be established.

IMF officially launches operations of the Shanghai Regional Office.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced the official launch of the Shanghai Regional Center today. The IMF stated that the Shanghai Regional Center will play an important role in strengthening cooperation between the IMF and the Asia-Pacific region. The regional center will serve as a hub to promote research and knowledge sharing, provide information for policy-making in relevant areas for emerging markets and middle-income countries, and is also committed to deepening dialogue and exchange with member countries and regional institutions. Johannes Wiegand will serve as the first director of the Shanghai Regional Center.

Price information:

The central parity rate of the RMB against the USD is set at 7.0764, down 15 points; the previous trading day's central parity rate was 7.0749, the official closing price of the previous trading day was 7.0706, and the night session closed at 7.0720.

[Upstream Raw Material USD Market Price]

CFR Northeast Asia $740/ton, CFR Southeast Asia $720/ton.

The average FOB Korea price of propylene in Northeast Asia is $720/ton, and the average CFR China price is $750/ton.

CFR price for Northeast Asia: Propane at 537-539 USD/ton; Butane at 592-594 USD/ton.

The December CFR price for frozen goods in South China is $575-585 per ton for propane and $556-575 per ton for butane.

The CIF price of frozen goods in Taiwan is $537-539 per ton for propane and $592-594 per ton for butane.

LLDPE USD market price

Film: 840-850 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Injection Molding: USD 880/ton (CFR Huangpu);

[HDPE USD Market Price]

Film: $880-895/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Injection molding: 815-820 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Hollow: $820-830/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipes: $1000/ton (CFR Huangpu);

[LDPE USD Market Price]

Film: $990-1000/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Coating: 1190 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu).

[PP USD Market Price]

Injection molding: $795/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Co-polymer: 830-855 USD/ton (CFR Nansha);

Membrane material: 965 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Transparent: $1065/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipe material: $1,100/ton (CFR Shanghai).

Editor: Yun Shimeng (Carrie)