The crisis on the German plasticsrecycling market continues to deepen: Veolia Umweltservice, part of the global Veolia group, notified staff members on Tuesday that it would be shuttering the plastic recycling businesses Multiport and Multipet at the end of the year. Europe’s largest environmental services company already shut down its PET recycling operations in Rostock at the end of 2023 owing to economic pressures. After the newly announced closures in Bernburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Veolia will no longer have any plastic recycling operations in Germany. At the same time, however, Veolia is expanding its recycling activities elsewhere in Europe. Last week, the company announced plans for the United Kingdom’s first "tray-to-tray" facility, where it will process PET trays and bottles.

On July 16, GAC Group announced a cooperation agreement with Jameel Motors, a distributor under Saudi Arabia, which will distribute GAC Group's models in the UK, the second largest automotive market in Europe. This move makes GAC Group the fourth Chinese automaker to launch a new brand in the UK market this month. Image source: GAC Group According to the plan, GAC Group will first launch two AION brand electric vehicle models in the UK market - the AION V SUV and the AION UT hatchback, with the first batch of vehicles expected to be delivered to UK consumers in the first quarter of 2026. Guangzhou Automobile Group International General Manager Wei Haigang stated that through strategic cooperation with Ample Auto, GAC Group is able to bring electric vehicle models to the UK market, promoting a transition to cleaner and more sustainable transportation in the UK. When asked whether other brands such as Trumpchi, Hechuang, or Haobo would be introduced, GAC Group indicated that at this stage, it will focus on promoting the Aion brand in the UK market. It is worth noting that GAC Group has announced plans to launch sales operations in European countries such as Portugal and Poland, and successfully entered the Brazilian market in May this year.2024Year Guangqi Group Global sales declined year-on-year.20% 200"ten thousand vehicles, mainly due to its relationship with Honda" ToyotaAutomobile'sThe impact of declining sales of joint ventures in the Chinese market.GAC GroupOverseas market sales, however, went against the trend. 67%, reach12.7tens of thousands of vehicles, demonstrating a strong momentum for international development. The UK is the second-largest electric vehicle market in Europe (after Germany). Data shows that in June of this year, one in four cars sold in the UK was an electric vehicle. Unlike the European Union, the UK has not yet imposed tariffs on electric vehicles made in China. ，BYD Several Chinese automobile manufacturers have started operations in the UK market. Earlier this month, Geely Group launched its EX5 electric SUV in the UK. Changan Automobile is set to release its deep blue S07 electric SUV in the UK, while Chery Automobile, having already sold Omoda and Jaecoo brand models, also announced that it will launch Chery brand models in the UK in the coming weeks. Additionally, the UK government announced this week that it will invest £650 million (approximately $871 million) in electric vehicle subsidies. Consumers purchasing models priced at no more than £37,000 can receive a maximum subsidy of £3,750, and this policy may also attract more brands to enter the UK market.

International News Digest:   Raw Material News - Ocean Conservancy Report Claims Most States Lagging in Plastic Pollution Efforts Automotive News - Renault Appoints Interim CEO and Lowers 2025 Profit Forecast Electronics News - Researchers Develop Breakthrough Heat - Conductive Plastic to Help Prevent Overheating in Advanced Electronic Devices Medical News - Medical Disposables Manufacturer Reshores Operations to North Carolina Macro News - AMD Announces Resumption of AI Chip Exports to China Price Information - RMB/USD Central Parity Rate Reported at 7.1526, Down 28 Pips   Details of International News:   Ocean Conservancy Report Claims Most States Lagging in Plastic Pollution Efforts The Washington-based Ocean Conservancy has released a new report, "United States of Plastics," that analyzes state-level efforts to combat plastic pollution on a five-star scale. According to the report, on average, U.S. states scored 1.5 stars, or “needs improvement,” with 44 out of 50 states and Washington D.C. scoring below three stars.“Overall, the results are disappointing,” Ocean Conservancy Director of Plastics Policy Anja Brandon says. “Four in five Americans consider plastic pollution to be the most pressing issue facing our ocean, yet only six states ranked as ‘good’ or above in our study. We hope that the 'United States of Plastics' report inspires policy change and gives a benchmark for states to measure their progress in combating plastic pollution in the years to come.” Anya, Plastic Policy Director of the Ocean ConservancyBrandon stated, "Overall, the results are disappointing. Four out of five Americans believe plastic pollution is the most urgent issue facing the oceans; however, in our study, only six states were rated 'good' or above. We hope the 'State of Plastic in America' report can drive policy change and provide a benchmark for states to measure their progress in addressing plastic pollution in the coming years." Stratasys Unveils 'True' Silicone 3D-printing Material The new P3 Silicone 25A is a high-performance material developed in a strategic collaboration with Shin-Etsu and designed exclusively for the Stratasys Origin DLP platform. It can be used to produce a range of products, including suction cups.   Medical Disposables Manufacturer Reshores Operations to North Carolina A manufacturer of medical disposables headquartered in Hauppauge, NY, with manufacturing operations in China, GMAX Industries Inc. has chosen to locate its base of manufacturing operations in Winston-Salem, NC, according to a news report from Greater Winston Salem Inc. The decision is described as a strategic initiative to relocate manufacturing in the United States. Researchers Develop Breakthrough Heat - Conductive Plastic to Help Prevent Overheating in Advanced Electronic Devices Anyone who has left a phone in a hot car knows that electronic devices shut down when they overheat. According to foreign media reports, researchers at Northeastern University have developed a new type of lightweight plastic - ceramic composite material that can conduct heat and more effectively cool advanced electronic devices. "Heat management is a huge challenge for devices such as power electronics and radar antennas," said Professor Randall Erb, head of Northeastern University's Directed Assembly of Particles and Suspensions (DAPS) Laboratory and lead researcher on the project. "When electronic devices overheat, you either have to slow them down or shut them off. That might be okay for a phone, but not for critical systems like radar." In collaboration with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, researchers at Northeastern University have developed a material that combines ceramics, polymers, and additives to form a 3D - printable plastic composite. It has a unique nanoscale ordered internal structure that allows heat to pass through easily. Renault Appoints Interim CEO and Lowers 2025 Profit Forecast Following the unexpected departure of the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of French automaker Renault, the company has lowered its 2025 profit forecast and appointed its current Chief Financial Officer, Duncan Minto, as interim CEO. Duncan Minto will replace Luca de Meo, who is set to become CEO of Kering. On July 15, Renault stated that it is actively searching for a long - term CEO. According to people familiar with the matter, potential candidates include Denis Le Vot, head of the Dacia brand; Francois Provost, Renault's purchasing director; and former Stellantis executive Maxime Picat.   Overseas Macro Market Information:   【U.S. Treasury Secretary Explains Export of H20 Chips to China: China Has Developed Chips with Equivalent Performance, So We Can Sell Them】 According to Reference News, on July 15 local time, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said in an interview with Bloomberg Television when talking about Nvidia's approval to export H20 chips that China has developed chips with performance equivalent to H20 chips, so there is no problem with Nvidia selling H20 chips. 【U.S. Proposes South Korea to Refer to Japan's Example: Establish a Sovereign Fund to Lend to South Korean Enterprises for U.S. Factory Construction】 According to South Korea's Chosun Ilbo, South Korean government officials familiar with relevant trade negotiations revealed that the U.S. has asked South Korea to take the lead in setting up a multi - billion - dollar investment fund aimed at boosting U.S. manufacturing. The fund, tentatively named the "Manufacturing Cooperation Promotion Fund", will provide financing support for South Korean enterprises to build factories, expand plants, or invest in local partners in the U.S. This request, confirmed on July 15, marks a significant shift from the U.S.'s previous focus on easing trade barriers in the agricultural and digital data sectors. 【AMD Announces Resumption of AI Chip Exports to China】 According to Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao website on July 16, U.S. chip company Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) said that it plans to resume exports of its MI308 chips to China after the U.S. announced it would approve the sales. Previously, the U.S. made a similar decision regarding a Nvidia chip. 【Trump Says Pharmaceutical Tariffs May Be Introduced Before August 1, Downplaying the Possibility of Reaching More Trade Agreements】 U.S. President Donald Trump said he could impose tariffs on pharmaceuticals as early as the end of this month and may soon impose tariffs on semiconductors, suggesting that these import taxes could be implemented along with the broad "reciprocal" tariffs set to take effect on August 1.   Price information:   【RMB/USD Central Parity Rate】 The RMB/USD central parity rate was reported at 7.1526, down 28 pips; the central parity rate of the previous trading day was 7.1498, the official closing price of the previous trading day was 7.1734, and the night session closing price of the previous day was 7.1810. 【Upstream Raw Material USD Market Prices】 Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia at 820 USD/ton; CFR Southeast Asia at 830 USD/ton. Propylene Northeast Asia: FOB South Korea average at 740 USD/ton; CFR China average at 775 USD/ton. North Asia frozen cargo CIF price: Propane at 521 - 523 USD/ton; Butane at 491 - 493 USD/ton. South China frozen cargo CIF price for early August: Propane at 558 - 568 USD/ton; Butane at 529 - 537 USD/ton. Taiwan region frozen cargo CIF price: Propane at 536 - 538 USD/ton; Butane at 491 - 493 USD/ton. 【LLDPE USD Market Prices】 Film: 875 - 910 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Injection Molding: 950 USD/ton (CFR Dongguan). 【HDPE USD Market Prices】 Film: 920 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Blow Molding: 855 - 860 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu). 【LDPE USD Market Prices】 Film: 1070 - 1110 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Coating: 1350 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu). 【PP USD Market Prices】 Homopolymer: 935 - 965 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Copolymer: 965 - 995 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Film Grade: 1000 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Transparent Grade: 1085 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Pipe Grade: 1160 USD/ton (CFR Shanghai).

A study commissioned by the European Plastics Converters (EuPC) shows that if a shift is made from single-use plastic (SUP) pallet wrapping films to reusable solutions, the resulting additional costs could further weaken Europe's competitiveness. EuPC warns that changing SUP pallet packaging could incur huge costs (photo: Smarterpix/Kalinovskiy) The study covers eight key industries, with results indicating that carbon emissions could potentially rise by 1700%, and the estimated annual additional cost could reach 4.9 billion euros. The European Plastics Converters Association points out that the impact within the EU could be even more significant. Due to the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which will set multiple reuse targets for pallet wrapping films starting in August 2026, and allows for exemptions in "specific industries facing special economic constraints," the industry association has commissioned the Belgian sustainability consulting firm RDC to analyze the impact of this transition. The report assessed the economic viability of transitioning from single-use plastic wrap and covers (currently the most commonly used transport packaging) to alternatives that comply with PPWR requirements (such as reusable covers and reusable stackable turnover boxes/pallet boxes), focusing on eight major industrial sectors in the EU: agriculture, cement, construction, dairy, glass, plastics, retail, and water services. For different industries of plastic products, the study selected a 1-liter high-density polyethylene (HDPE) milk bottle (filled), a 25-kilogram plastic granule bag, and a 1.5-liter polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle (filled) as analysis objects, corresponding to the dairy, plastics, and water industries. The research data was mainly collected through 4 field visits and 31 interviews, aiming to clarify the functions of various types of pallet packaging and related costs. The results show that if the EU fully transitions to a reusable pallet packaging system in the long term, the annual production cost for milk bottles will increase by 297 million euros (an increase of 2.2%), plastic granule bags will increase by 167 million euros (an increase of 0.3%), and PET bottles will increase by 947 million euros (an increase of 2.7%). The additional costs mainly stem from two aspects: first, the new equipment required at the end of the automated production line, and second, the procurement costs of the reusable packaging itself. The analysis points out that the rising production costs of reusable packaging systems will also impact the EU's "cost-sensitive" export trade. The report mentions: "Operators engaged in export business within and outside the EU may still need to retain the currently globally used disposable pallet packaging systems." This means that, in the short to medium term, manufacturers will need to operate both disposable and reusable systems simultaneously in their production facilities, which will complicate logistics processes, and multiple competing reusable standards will coexist. Due to the current lack of large-scale application of alternative reusable systems, the research results are based on multiple assumptions. RDC Environment Company states that there is "significant uncertainty" in the market regarding the transition from manual operations to automated, optimized reusable systems on a large scale. Therefore, the long-term scenario set in the study is that improved reusable solutions are widely applied and compatible with automated systems. The European Plastics Converters Association previously stated that it plans to use the research results to engage in "constructive dialogue" with European legislators on the formulation of the implementation details of the "Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation."

A joint industry initiative has seen the publication of a guidance on certification schemes to support waste management operators and sorters in complying with EU Regulation 2022/1616.The regulation mandates third-party certification of quality assurance systems for food-contact recycled plastics. The guidance provides a detailed interpretation of the legal framework and is intended as a practical tool for both EU and non-EU operators, as the latter must meet equivalent requirements. Streamlining certification is an important step towards increasing high-quality PET recyclate supply in Europe (Photo: Petcore Europe) The initiative includes European Plastics Converters (EuPC), the Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance (Expra), the European Association of Plastics Recycling and Recovery Organisations (Epro), Natural Mineral Waters Europe (NMWE), Petcore Europe, and Unesda.The document covers procedures that must be implemented during the pre-processing of plastic packaging waste, including collection and sorting. Pre-treatment activities such as washing and grinding are not addressed in the guidance, “as they are already covered by existing third-party certification”, according to the document.For collectors and sorters, the guidance includes sections on the origin of collected waste, accepted separate collection systems, plastics input specification, quality assurance systems, and quality control.The document also touches on monitoring and revision. According to the partners, the first revision of the guidance is planned for 2026/2027.

The production facility "Phoenix" for polypropylene packaging materials has been completed in the Trans-Baikal Territory of Russia, and a grand opening ceremony was held to mark the commencement of operations. The company specializes in the large-scale production of polypropylene mesh woven bags, which are used for the storage and transportation of fruits and vegetables. Currently, there are no similar enterprises in the region. For the Baikal Region, the establishment of this factory fills a long-standing gap in the local industry. Previously, packaging materials had to be procured and transported from other regions, resulting in high costs. According to Zargalema Badmazhapova, the Minister of Economic Development of the Trans-Baikal Territory, "The total investment in the project exceeds 24 million rubles, of which 18 million rubles comes from the support of the Industrial Development Fund of the Trans-Baikal Territory. This fund provides preferential loans through the 'Manufacturing Industry' program, specifically for the purchase of polypropylene woven bag production lines." The mesh woven bags produced by the factory have high strength performance and can carry large volume goods. The fruit and vegetable specific mesh bags are designed with optimized mesh holes - ensuring breathability and freshness of the internal products while preventing them from falling out. The products will be supplied to enterprises engaged in fruit and vegetable wholesale, greenhouse farms, agricultural complexes and private enterprises in the Trans-Baikal region and surrounding areas, while also meeting the group's own needs. "Feniks" belongs to the "Chernovskiy Vegetable Growing" enterprise group and also engages in the sale of fruits and vegetables. The factory plans to produce no less than 1.7 million polypropylene woven bags annually.

European Plastics Converters (EuPC) has announced a change in management. The organisation has appointed Federica Gallicchio as its new managing director. The lawyer succeeds Paolo Bochicchio, who took up the position last September. Gallicchio is the fourth person to hold the role since 2023. She follows Alexandre Dangis, Bernhard Merkx, and Bochicchio. A EuPC spokesperson initially declined to comment on the unexpected change when speaking with Plasteurope.com.Gallicchio has been working for EuPC since 2019 – among other things, in the fields of packaging and automotive. Prior to that, she worked for a member of the European Parliament in the Committee on the Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety. Association president Benoit Hennaut praised Federica Gallicchio’s expertise in both political business and industry (Photo: EuPC) In addition, EuPC has announced the launch of a new sector group, European Plastic Films (EuPF), aimed at strengthening industry collaboration and promoting sustainability across the plastic films sector.Renato Zelcher, CEO of Italian films manufacturer Crocco and former EuPC president, was unanimously appointed as the first president of EuPF at the group’s inaugural meeting in Brussels.Founding members of EuPF include Crocco, Trioworld, RKW Group, Armando Alvarez Group, and Ergis Group – companies known for their leadership in sustainable plastic film production.

The 27th International Waste Plastics Day is set to take place in Dresden, Germany, on 24 and 25 June. Organised by the German association for secondary raw materials and waste disposal bvse (Bonn), this year’s congress is to focus on the theme of Plastics Recycling: Out of the Crisis and Into the Future. More than 300 participants are expected to take part. A prime example of successful recycling: the rebuilt Dresden Frauenkirche (Photo: PIE) Following the keynote speech by Ton Emans, president of industry association Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE, ), two panel discussions will examine the impact of new legal frameworks on plastics recycling.Gunda Rachut, chairperson of Germany’s central agency packaging register ZSVR , Bettina Rechenberg from the federal environment agency UBA, Fritz Flanderka from Reclay ， and bvse vice-president Herbert Snell will discuss the opportunities and challenges of the regulatory requirements, moderated by Martin Engelmann from IK.In the afternoon, the programme will be divided into two parallel workshops – while one will focus on Poland as a partner country and offer insights into market structures, legal frameworks, and cross-border challenges there, the other, led by Dirk Textor, will examine topics related to quantities, markets, and prices in plastics recycling.

Brussels-based waste management group Chemical Recycling Europe (CRE) has announced the publication of a framework that it says will help a wide range of stakeholders assess the environmental performance of chemical recycling processes.   CRE unveils framework to standardise environmental assessments of chemical recycling technologies (Photo: PantherMedia/ KateNovikova)   Working with US consultancy and software provider Sphera , CRE said the framework was designed to “evaluate key environmental indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy demand, and resource efficiency”.The 73-page guide “provides methodological clarity and practical recommendations tailored to the specificities of chemical recycling, contributing to greater consistency in environmental reporting and comparability across technologies”, it added.The document highlights that, of the more than 30 mn t of post-consumer waste plastics generated in 2022, less than 0.2 mn t was chemically recycled – a situation that needs to change.“While many life cycle assessments (LCAs) have been performed of chemical recycling technologies to better understand their environmental performance, there is a need for a standard set of guidelines to ensure that LCAs provide consistent and meaningful results that can be used to improve decision-making,” the group said.Describing the publication of the framework as a “milestone”, CRE said it marked “a key step in advancing transparent and science-based assessment methodologies for chemical recycling technologies”.The waste management group added that the LCA Guideline is “designed to support stakeholders across the plastics value chain in accurately assessing the environmental performance of chemical recycling processes.”

【International News Digest】 Raw Materials - The new plastic is completely soluble in seawater — no micro-particles Automotive - Syensqo Unveils Bright Orange Flame-Retardant PPA for EV Safety Applications Corporate - Sulzer inaugurates biopolymer engineering and scale-up center Macro - Trump Team Considers Meeting with Iran This Week Price - USD/CNY Central Parity Rate at 7.1746, Up 43 Pips International News Details The new plastic is completely soluble in seawater — no micro-particles Japanese scientists from the The Center for Research on New Materials (RIKEN) was established a new type of plastic, is a recyclable material that dissolves in seawater, leaving no residue behind. The plastic, called alkyl SP2 has high strength, can be molded at temperatures above 120°C, and can be transformed into anything from hard shells to soft films. At the same time, unlike most biodegradable plastics, this material does not leave behind any microplastic particles. It can completely dissolve in seawater within 2-3 hours. Syensqo Unveils Bright Orange Flame-Retardant PPA for EV Safety Applications Belgian materials giant Syensqo has launched Amodel PPA HFFR-4133 Orange (OR), a flame-retardant polyphthalamide designed for electric vehicle (EV) safety applications.This advanced material features a stable, vibrant orange hue that retains brightness even after prolonged high-temperature exposure, addressing growing industry demands for safety and visibility in critical EV components like connectors and busbars. Sika launches PU adhesive for primerless auto glass replacement Sika launches Sikaflex® P2G Premium, a high-performance solution designed to complement their primerless auto glass replacement (AGR) product line. Sikaflex® P2G Premium offers a 3-hour minimum drive-away time (MDAT), optimized performance at elevated temperatures, short cut-off string, plus excellent decking and glass-slip properties. Sulzer Inaugurates Biopolymer Engineering and Scale-Up Center Sulzer Ltd. (Winterthur, Switzerland) opened its fourth location in Switzerland. The Innovation Technology Hub (InTecH) in Winterthur Töss will further enhance Sulzer’s research and development capabilities in advanced biopolymer engineering and recycling. With 3,150 m2 of laboratory and research space, this strategic investment is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainable innovation. Syensqo and Fairmat enter collaboration for carbon-fiber recycling SyensqoS.A. (Brussels, Belgium) and Fairmat S.A.S., a French company that turns carbon fiber into scalable, high-performance recycled materials, have entered into a collaboration agreement. Under this agreement, Fairmat will recycle Syensqo’s U.K. carbon fiber prepreg waste, transforming it into valuable resources for the production of new products in the sports, energy, mobility, and electronics markets.  OMAN：Government support fuels growth of plastics processing sector Two years ago, Oman and its state-owned petrochemicals group OQ launched the Labayn incentive programme – a scheme designed to encourage plastics processing companies to set up operations in the Gulf state. The initiative appears to be bearing fruit. So far, 18 companies from Europe, the Middle East, India, China, and Southeast Asia have committed to investing, said Abdul Rahman Al-Tamtami, OQ’s vice-president of global marketing, speaking at a press conference in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.   Overseas Macro Market Updates   BOJ Maintains Rates, Plans Slower Bond Tapering Next Year: The Bank of Japan kept its benchmark interest rate at 0.5% and will slow bond purchase tapering to ¥200 billion per quarter from next fiscal year (current pace: ¥400 billion/month), in line with market expectations. Trump Team Considers This Week’s Iran Talks: Axios reported the White House is weighing talks with Iran this week on the nuclear deal and Israel ceasefire. A U.S. official confirmed discussions on the proposal, with the U.S. reportedly using potential supply of bunker-busting bombs to Israel as a bargaining chip. Lagarde Urges Action to Boost Euro’s Global Role: ECB President Christine Lagarde called for decisive steps to strengthen the euro’s role in the international monetary system, emphasizing Europe must solidify geopolitical credibility, economic resilience, and institutional frameworks.   Price Information   【USD/CNY Central Parity Rate】The central parity rate of the Chinese yuan against the U.S. dollar was set at 7.1746, up 43 pips from the previous trading day. The previous day's central parity rate was 7.1789, the official closing price was 7.1802, and the overnight closing price was 7.1818. 【Raw Materials - USD Market Prices】 Ethylene (Asia): CFR Northeast Asia: $800/ton, up $10/ton CFR Southeast Asia: $850/ton Propylene (Northeast Asia): FOB Korea average: $710/ton, down $10/ton CFR China average: $760/ton North Asia LPG (CIF): Propane: $581-583/ton Butane: $551-553/ton South China LPG (July arrival, CIF): Propane: $593-603/ton Butane: $540-550/ton Taiwan LPG (CIF): Propane: $581-583/ton Butane: $551-553/ton 【LLDPE - USD Market Prices (CFR)】 Film grade: $915/ton (Huangpu) Injection molding grade: $960/ton (Dongguan) 【HDPE - USD Market Prices (CFR)】 Film grade: $910-915/ton (Huangpu), up $10/ton Hollow grade: $860/ton (Huangpu), down $5/ton 【LDPE - USD Market Prices (CFR)】 Film grade: $1,035/ton (Xiamen) 【PP - USD Market Prices (CFR)】 Homopolymer: $885-935/ton (Huangpu) Copolymer: $955-1,040/ton (Huangpu) Film grade: $1,025-1,090/ton (Huangpu) Transparent grade: $1,065/ton (Huangpu), down $20/ton Pipe grade: $1,160/ton (Shanghai)

Packaging manufacturer Amcor has teamed up with speciality paper manufacturer Fedrigoni to launch a fully recycle-ready flexible packaging solution for wet wipes. Amcor and Fedrigoni's new mono-material wet wipe packaging is fully recyclable in PE streams (Photo: Amcor) The product pairs Amcor’s AmPrima Plus flow wrap with Fedrigoni’s patented semi-rigid label to create a mono-material pack that can be recycled in polyethylene recycling streams across Europe. This development is in line with the goals of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which mandates that all packaging placed on the European market be recyclable by 2030. Marketing and R&D director at Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives, Federico Lanzi, said the collaboration is consistent with the company’s ESG strategy to 2030, “which aims to have 100% of materials designed for optimal recyclability and end-of-life recovery”. Certified as recyclable by both RecyClass and Institut cyclos-HTP, the new solution reduces packaging weight by up to 15% compared to traditional multi-material packs and cuts carbon footprint by as much as 55%, according to Amcor’s asset life cycle assessment, which is certified by the consultancy Carbon Trust. The design also supports cost savings for brands through lower extended producer responsibility fees, potentially reducing them by up to 35%, the company added.

Spanish masterbatch specialist Delta Tecnic said it has developed a pigment additive, which recently obtained certification from the French organisation providing research, consultancy, testing, and certification services in the construction industry CSTB. Delta Tecnic’s portfolio focuses on colour masterbatches, offering specialised solutions for a range of industrial applications (Photo: Fotolia/akyuterd) Delta Tecnic, which has been owned by investment group Investindustrial since last year said it had recently achieved CSTB approval in Germany, “demonstrating the effectiveness of its proposal for window and door profile manufacturers operating in a highly competitive industrial context, marked by sustainable transformation and heterogeneity of the machinery park”.The Spanish firm said the main technical challenge lies in the pigment’s ability to withstand CSTB’s most severe test; being exposed to extreme environmental conditions, including solar radiation, humidity, water, and abrasive particles, for six months. Such research tested the quality of the pigment’s colouring “and its ability to maintain its aesthetic and functional qualities over the long term”, it added.Brita Kunze, sales director Deltacolor at Delta Tecnic, said pigments had been “specifically selected for their lightfastness and outdoor performance, and in adaptable formats such as small micropellets or the innovative super small pellets, which guarantee perfect colour homogeneity without compromising the mechanical properties of the profile”.The CSTB, which employs nearly 1,000 staff, including 500 engineers, said it was “dedicated to making buildings more efficient and more respectful of people and the environment”.

Sika AG (Baar, Switzerland) and Sulzer Ltd. (Winterthur, Switzerland) have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture (JV) to advance plastics recycling in the construction industry. The aim is to combine the strengths of both companies: Sika’s extensive expertise in polymer applications and high-performance building materials and Sulzer’s leading process knowledge in chemical recycling. The joint venture, based in the Zurich area, will be founded as an independent company, with each partner holding a 50 percent stake. Operational activities will commence in the second half of 2025 with pilot projects in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Approximately two million tons of plastic waste are generated in the European construction industry alone each year. Currently, recycling these complex materials is highly fragmented, technically demanding, and often inefficient. As a result, the majority of construction plastics are disposed by the end of their lifecycle, since existing mechanical recycling methods produce low-quality materials that are not suitable for reuse. The joint venture initiators Michael Schüepp, Head of Ventures at Sulzer, and Ivo Schädler, Head of Construction at Sika. (Source: Sika) With this joint venture, Sika and Sulzer are developing a system for the collection, processing and reuse of construction plastics using mechanical and chemical processes. “This joint venture represents a significant milestone on our path toward greater sustainability and circularity in the construction industry. By converting waste into high-quality raw materials, the project helps reduce Scope 3 CO₂ emissions. At the same time, it supports companies in meeting increasing ESG standards and unlocking new value creation streams. Together, we are making a decisive contribution to the sustainable transformation of the construction industry, and thus to the future viability of the sector and our customers.” Ivo Schädler, Head of Construction “Sulzer technologies are at the heart of critical infrastructures and processes. Our solutions enable industries around the world to reduce emissions, reuse resources and recycle materials. Global developments show that our products, services and technologies are more relevant than ever. The combination of Sulzer’s and Sika’s technologies is now paving the way for the construction industry to achieve a functioning circular economy and an even more sustainable future. We are supporting an important industry on its journey toward a more cost-effective, efficient, and low-emission future.” Michael Schüpp, Head of Ventures Sulzer The joint venture between Sika and Sulzer will close gaps in the value chain of the construction industry, and offer customers a comprehensive, cost-efficient service package. The offering will be complemented by local partners, such as logistics and recycling companies, which will be integrated into specific process steps. Recycled materials will thus be reincorporated into the manufacturing process.

International News Digest: Raw Material News-Eastman loses $375M DOE grant for Texas plastics recycling facility； Auto News-Asahi Kasei launches new series of Sunfort™ dry film photoresist； Packaging News- KHS Partnership with Husky to launch lightweight PET bottle ； Macro News-Institution: The growth rate of the global smartphone market has declined for three consecutive quarters.； Price information-The central parity rate of the RMB against the US dollar was reported at 7.1869, up 21 points.   The following is an international news update: 1. Eastman loses $375M DOE grant for Texas plastics recycling facility； After a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nreview, specialty materials company Eastman has lost a $375 million grant it had been awarded in March 2024 to help cover the costs of building its second molecular recycling facility for plastics in the country—a $1.2 billion project—in Longview, Texas, where the company has maintained an operational presence for decades. 2. KHS Partnership with Husky to launch lightweight PET bottle German packaging machinery specialist KHS , in close collaboration with Canadian injection moulding machine manufacturer Husky , has unveiled an ultra-lightweight PET bottle for still beverages.Currently knows as Factor 101, the bottle weighs just 5.89 g while holding 591 ml – a 30% material reduction compared to standard lightweight bottles on the US market, the company said. 3. Sulzer to supply proprietary equipment to Emirates Biotech for PLA facility in UAE Sulzer to supply proprietary equipment to Emirates Biotech for PLA facility in UAESulzer has recently signed a supply contract with Emirates Biotech to provide the proprietary equipment that will serve as the technological core of the world-scale Polylactic Acid (PLA) production facility being built by Emirates Biotech in the United Arab Emirates. This follows a licensing agreement signed in December 2024, reinforcing the strategic partnership between the two companies. 4. Asahi Kasei Launches New Sunfort™ Dry Film Photoresist Series According to foreign media reports, Asahi Kasei Corporation (Asahi Kasei has developed the Sunfort™ dry film photoresist TA series, aimed at meeting the growing demand in the advanced semiconductor packaging field for applications such as artificial intelligence (AI) servers. This product is positioned as a strategic product within Asahi Kasei's materials division, aiming to enhance its influence in the rapidly growing next-generation chip packaging market. The dry film utilizes traditional step exposure systems and laser direct imaging (LDI) systems, providing ultra-high resolution that helps transfer circuit patterns onto substrates during the packaging process, thereby improving the performance and precision of back-end processes.  5. BASF launches €6B sale of coatings business BASF SE has launched the previously announced sale of its coatings business, with the potential deal valued at about €6 billion, according to a Bloomberg report May 30. In recent weeks, the company has sent information on the business to potential bidders, the report said. 6. EUROPEN launches interactive guidebook to help businesses navigate EU PPWR EUROPEN has released a new interactive guidebook designed to help businesses navigate the evolving requirements of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).   The following is overseas macro market information: Overseas macro market information: 【Minutes of the Federal Reserve 's May Monetary Policy Meeting.】 tend to act cautiously and predictably in terms of policy easing. He believes that it is not the time to shift policy to an expansionary stance. The policy is in a favorable position and can respond decisively when necessary. Lowering the cash rate is an appropriate response to global risks. The reason for the interest rate cut of 25 basis points is higher than that of 50 basis points. He believes that policy is ' somewhat restrictive ' at the current interest rate level. 【Goldman Sachs : Aluminium prices may fall to $ 2,100 a tonne due to accelerating Indonesian supply.】 Goldman Sachs said it expects aluminium prices to fall to a low of $ 2,100 a tonne by early 2026, a level that would suspend overinvestment in Indonesian smelting capacity. Three 500,000 tonnes smelters in Indonesia will be operational by mid-2026, earlier than expected, according to Goldman Sachs. The increase in production will lead to a million tons of excess supply in 2026, the largest excess since 2020. 【Bank of Japan Governor 's dovish remarks push the yen lower in early trading.】The yen weakened against most other G10 and Asian currencies in early trading due to dovish signs of earlier remarks by Bank of Japan Governor Takeda and Masahiro. Ueda said that uncertainty, including the prospect of trade policy, is still high, and this uncertainty may continue even if the tariffs are determined. The Bank of Japan will not pre-set interest rate policy, nor will it promote interest rate hikes in order to make room for future interest rate cuts. The US dollar rose 0.3 % against the Japanese yen in early trading, the euro rose 0.1 % against the Japanese yen, and the New York dollar rose 0.2 % against the Japanese yen. 【Institution: The growth rate of the global smartphone market has declined for three consecutive quarters.】 The latest research from Canalys shows that in the first quarter of 2025, the global smartphone market achieved only 0.2% growth, with shipments reaching 296.9 million units. As the phased peak of device replacements comes to an end and manufacturers seek healthier inventory levels, the growth rate of the global smartphone market has declined for three consecutive quarters. Samsung ranked first, with shipments reaching 60.5 million units; Apple ranked second, with shipments of 55 million units, capturing a 19% market share; Xiaomi remained in third place, with shipments of 41.8 million units and a market share of 14%. Vivo and OPPO ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, with shipments of 22.9 million units and 22.7 million units. 【Trump says Iran will not be allowed to conduct any uranium enrichment activities.】According to U.S. media reports on June 2, U.S. Middle East envoy Wittekov proposed a new plan regarding the Iran nuclear issue on May 31, which would allow Iran to conduct limited low-concentration uranium enrichment activities for a certain period of time. However, U.S. President Trump later denied this statement, stating that no uranium enrichment activities would be allowed for Iran. 【Japan 's 10-year bond auction is in hot demand, and Thursday 's 30-year auction is the next test.】 In this JPY 2.6 trillion 10-year bond auction, the bidding multiple jumped from 2.54 last month to 3.66, far exceeding the average level of the past year. Investors pay close attention to Thursday 's 30-year auction, which will determine whether the market is ready to meet the pain of normalization after the Bank of Japan withdraws from the ultra-loose policy. 【OECD once again lowered its global economic growth forecast, which is expected to be 2.9 % this year and next. 】 OECD lowered its global economic growth forecast for 2025 from 3.1 % to 2.9 %. The forecast for global economic growth in 2026 is lowered from 3 % to 2.9 %. The U.S. economic growth forecast for 2025 was lowered from 2.2 % to 1.6 %. Japan 's economy is expected to grow by 0.7 % in 2025 and 0.4 % in 2026. The UK 's economy is expected to grow by 1.3 % in 2025 and 1 % in 2026. Germany 's economy is expected to grow by 0.4 % in 2025 and 1.2 % in 2026. OECD said that easing trade tensions is the focus of global policy. Protectionism exacerbates inflationary pressure. The OECD stated that easing trade tensions is a global policy priority. Protectionism has exacerbated inflationary pressures. Price Information: 【Central parity rate of RMB vs USD】 The RMB's central parity rate against the US dollar is set at7.1869, up by 21 points; the previous trading day's midpoint was 7.1848, the previous trading day's official closing price was 7.1991, and the overnight session closed at 7.1972. 【Upstream raw material USD market prices】 Ethylene Asia:CFR Northeast Asia $780/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $850/ton. Propylene Northeast Asia:The average FOB price in South Korea is 745 USD/ton, down 5 USD/ton; the average CFR price in China is 775 USD/ton, down 10 USD/ton. North Asia frozen cargo CIF, Propane550-552 USD/ton; Butane 520-522 USD/ton. South China frozen goods CIF prices in early July: Propane at $602-612/ton; Butane at $537-547/ton. Taiwan region frozen cargo landed price, propane550-552 USD/ton; butane 520-522 USD/ton. 【LLDPE USD market price】 Film:$875/ton (CFR Huangpu), down $5/ton. Injection molding:USD 970/ton (CFR Dongguan) 【HDPE USD market price】 Thin film:$900-920/ton (CFR Huangpu), down $5/ton. Hollow:865-870 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); 【LDPE USD market price】 Film: (Note: The word "" translates directly to "film" in English, but without additional context, it's not clear if this is referring to a specific type of film or if there should be more to the sentence. Therefore, only "Film" is provided as a direct translation.) 1025-1035 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu), down by 5 USD/ton; 【PP USD market price】 Uniform aggregation:$890-950/ton (CFR Huangpu), down $15/ton. Copolymerization:955-1060 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Membrane material:1025-1090 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Transparent: USD 1085/ton (CFR Huangpu), down USD 10/ton. Pipes:1160 USD/ton (CFR Shanghai).  

International News Digest: Raw Material News - Mitsui Chemicals Considers Splitting off Basic & Green Materials Business Auto News-China's auto export value in April reached $19.39 billion, up 6.9% month-on-month and 5.3% year-on-year Electronics and Electrical News- Sony Moves Manufacturing of High-End Xperia Phones to Third-Party OEMs Toy News - Pop Mart Suspends Labubu Sales in the UK Macroeconomic News - Trump team considers “Plan B”as reciprocal tariffs are blocked Price information - CFR Northeast Asia $780/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $850/ton   The following is the detailed international news:    1. Tariffs, a major variable! U.S. Court of Appeals: Approved! According to the CCTV News, on May 29th local time, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit approved the request from the Trump administration to temporarily suspend the previous ruling made by the U.S. Court of International Trade, which prohibited the execution of the Trump administration's executive order to impose tariff measures on many countries based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit also ordered both parties to submit written arguments on the issue of blocking the imposition of tariffs, with relevant documents to be submitted by early next month. The court will then decide on the next steps. U.S. government data released Thursday showed that U.S. economic activity contracted at a 0.2% annual rate in the first quarter of this year, marking its first decline in three years, disrupted by the trade war initiated by former President Trump. Additionally, affected by tariffs, an increasing number of U.S. retailers are planning to raise prices. A survey report released by Germany's Allianz Group shows that 54% of American companies are addressing the cost increases caused by U.S. tariff policies by raising prices.   2. Mitsui Chemicals Considers Splitting off Basic & Green Materials Business Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.  has begun to consider splitting off its Basic & Green Materials business ("B&GM"), which is primarily engaged in petrochemicals, in order to transition to a more robust business structure and promote the shift to green society, with a view to pursuing collaboration with other companies as well as integration and transformation. Scope of the consideration：Phenols, Industrial Chemicals, Sustainable Feedstocks, Licensing, Prime Polymer Co., Ltd. (Polyolefins), Polyurethanes While we will strive to realize the ideal vision as early as possible, we will split off B&GM and establish the business entity—which will serve as a core in future integration and transformation—by around 2027.    3. ExxonMobil to sell French subsidiary Esso S.A.F.  ExxonMobil France Holding has entered into exclusive negotiations with North Atlantic France SAS for both the proposed sale of its 82.89% majority shareholder interest in Esso Société Anonyme Française SA (Esso S.A.F.), as well as the proposed sale of ExxonMobil Chemical France SAS.With the exception of those part of the previously announced redundancy plan, all of the approximately 1,350 employees in France will be retained and remain on the same employment terms and conditions.   4. The production of the rubber and plastics industry in Russia decreased by 1.6% year-on-year from January to April, with a drop of 4.7% in April alone According to the data from the Federal State Statistics Service of Russia (Rosstat), the production of rubber and plastic products in Russia decreased by 1.6% year-on-year from January to April 2025. The industrial production index in April 2025 increased by 1.5% compared to the same period in 2024, and the cumulative index from January to April 2025 was 101.2% (a year-on-year increase of 1.2%). Compared to March 2025, the industrial production index fell by 4.2% month-on-month, dropping to 95.8%. Business managers pointed out that the shortage of personnel is still one of the main factors hindering the completion of production plans. The negative evaluations are dominant in the mining industry (-24.1%) and processing and manufacturing industry (-18.3%). Nevertheless, most managers are neutral, showing a cautious attitude towards the current business situation, demand, and production growth potential.   5. Star Plastics® offers PC/ABS FR compounds as a cost-effective alternative to ABS FR Star Plastics® is helping manufacturers navigate ongoing supply chain disruptions and cost volatility associated with ABS flame retardant (FR) materials. In response to the scarcity and rising prices of antimony – a key component in ABS FR – Star Plastics is offering its high-performance PC/ABS FR compounds as a dependable and cost-effective alternative.   6. Sony Moves Manufacturing of High-End Xperia Phones to Third-Party OEMs Sony already uses third-party manufacturers to produce its phones. This has been a strategy adopted for the mid-range smartphones so far. However, a new report indicates that the brand will now expand the strategy to its high-end devices. According to a Japanese news outlet, this is not a temporary move. It is likely a long-term strategy. You can no longer find “smartphones” on the list at Sony’s production sites in Thailand. Historically, three manufacturing sites were involved in Sony’s smartphone production. Two are in Thailand and one is in China. None of them lists “smartphones” anymore. This means that the company is completely obliterating the smartphone production of its sites. This does not mean an end, as it is now relying on third-party OEMs for such a process.   7 China's auto export value reached 19.39 billion US dollars in April, increased by 6.9% month-on-month and 5.3% year-on-year. According to data from the General Administration of Customs compiled by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, in April 2025, the total value of automobile imports and exports was $23.09 billion, up 6.8% month-over-month and down 2.2% year-over-year. Among these, the import amount was $3.7 billion, up 6.3% month-over-month and down 28.6% year-over-year; the export amount was $19.39 billion, up 6.9% month-over-month and up 5.3% year-over-year. From January to April 2025, the cumulative value of national automobile imports and exports was $81.88 billion, down 5.2% year-over-year. Among these, the import amount was $13.27 billion, down 34.5% year-over-year; the export amount was $68.61 billion, up 3.7% year-over-year.   8. Pop Mart suspends Labubu sales in the UK Recently, Pop Mart's latest LABUBU 3.0 series has sparked a buying frenzy in various global locations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy. Amidst the intense demand, a "major brawl" reportedly broke out at the Westfield Stratford shopping center in London. To prevent the situation from escalating, Pop Mart announced that, out of safety concerns, the Labubu series products will be temporarily removed from all UK stores.   Overseas macro market information:   【The Japanese government announced the lifting of partial sanctions on Syria】On May 30, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated that the Japanese government has lifted some sanctions on Syria. Currently, there are no detailed announcements regarding the specifics of the lifted sanctions on the official websites of various Japanese government departments. 【The United States plans to increase arms sales to Taiwan】 According to Reuters, the United States plans to increase arms sales to Taiwan, and Trump focuses on arms sales to Taiwan beyond his first term. 【Iranian Foreign Minister: Iran "Not Sure" About Approaching Deal with US】In response to recent media speculation about an upcoming agreement between Iran and the US, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said on the 29th that Iran was "not sure if we have reached that point." Araghchi posted on social media that day, stating that Iran sincerely seeks a diplomatic solution that benefits all parties. However, achieving this goal requires an agreement that comprehensively lifts all sanctions against Iran and safeguards Iran's nuclear rights, including uranium enrichment. The path to reaching an agreement lies at the negotiating table, not in the media. 【Trump team considers “Plan B”as reciprocal tariffs are blocked】This plan may proceed in two steps: in the short term, the administration could invoke Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose a maximum 15% tariff on a wide range of global economies for a period of 150 days. The second step would involve using Section 301 of the same law to establish customized tariffs for each major trading partner within those 150 days. 【Delta Air Lines to Resume Direct Flights Between Shanghai and Los Angeles】Bringing Weekly China-US Flights to 17 Delta Air Lines announced today that it will resume direct flights between Shanghai and Los Angeles starting June 2, operating three times a week. This will increase Delta’s weekly China-US flights to 17. Currently, the recovery of China-US routes is slow, with the number of flights restored being less than 30% of pre-pandemic levels. 【China-US shipping is recovering, but signs of a slowdown in container booking volumes are emerging】 This is attributed to the mutual tariff reductions that began earlier this month. The shipping price for a standard 40-foot container from Shanghai to Los Angeles has increased by nearly 17% to $3,738, marking the largest weekly relative increase this year. As of the week ending May 29, the shipping rate per container is still nearly one-third lower than the peak value in January of this year, but higher than the low point of $2,487 before Trump announced the "liberation day" tariffs at the end of March. However, the volume of container bookings has declined somewhat. Data from Vizion and Dun & Bradstreet show that the total bookings for the first three days of this week equated to approximately 106,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This is a decrease from 137,000 TEUs during the same period last week. Globally, the week starting May 19th was the highest booking week of the year so far. 【Volkswagen CEO stated that the company is in direct negotiations with the U.S. government regarding tariff issues】 According to reports, Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume mentioned in an interview that the company is directly consulting with the U.S. government to resolve the tariff dispute. Blume stated that if the tariff dispute is resolved, Volkswagen is willing to make "additional, large-scale" investments based on its existing investments in the U.S.   Price information: 【Central parity rate of RMB against USD】 The central parity rate of the renminbi against the US dollar was reported at 7.1848, up 59 points; the previous trading day's central parity rate was 7.1907, the previous official closing price was 7.1916, and the overnight closing price was 7.1865. 【 Upstream raw material US dollar market prices】 Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia $780/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $850/ton. Acrylic Northeast Asia: FOB Korea average price 750 USD/ton; CFR China average price 785 USD/ton. North Asia cryogenic cargo, propane at $550.5-$552.5 per ton; butane at $520.5-$522.5 per ton. South China frozen cargo CIF prices for June: Propane 623-633 USD/ton; Butane 563-573 USD/ton. The CIF price for frozen goods in Taiwan is propane $550.5-$552.5/ton; butane $520.5-$522.5/ton. 【LLDPE US Dollar Market Price】 Film: $880/ton (CFR Huangpu); Injection molding: 970 USD/ton (CFR Dongguan); 【HDPE USD market price】 Film: $905-925 per ton (CFR Huangpu). Hollow: USD 865-870 per ton (CFR Huangpu); 【 LDPE USD market price】 Film: 1025-1040 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); 【PP USD market price】 Homopolymer: $905-$950/ton (CFR Huangpu); Copolymer: $955-$1060/ton (CFR Huangpu); Material: $1025-$1090/ton (CFR Huangpu); Transparent: $1095/ton (CFR Huangpu) Pipe material: 1160 USD/ton (CFR Shanghai).  

According to data from the Federal State Statistics Service of Russia (Rosstat), rubber and plastic product output in Russia fell by 1.6% year-on-year for January-April 2025. The industrial production index for April 2025 increased by 1.5% compared to the same period in 2024, with the cumulative index for January-April 2025 at 101.2% (a year-on-year increase of 1.2%). Compared to March 2025, the industrial production index fell by 4.2% month-on-month, dropping to 95.8%. The Russian statistics agency covers the mining industry, processing manufacturing, thermal and electric power generation, as well as the dynamics of production and service provision in the areas of water supply, drainage, waste management, and pollution control when calculating the industrial production index. The rubber and plastic products sector is showing a significant downward trend: in April 2025, the production volume decreased by 4.7% year-on-year, and the cumulative production from January to April 2025 fell by 1.6% compared to the same period in 2024 (previous data indicated that the production decline in the first quarter of 2025 was 0.3%). According to the respondents' evaluation, the average capacity utilization rates for the mining industry and the processing manufacturing industry are 60% and 61%, respectively. The following factors affect enterprises' assessment of their current business activities: In the mining industry, the proportion of respondents expecting an increase in corporate production over the next three months rose from 3.8% to 11.7%. In the processing and manufacturing industry, the proportion of respondents expecting production growth in the next three months decreased by 2 percentage points to 24.2%. At the same time, the assessment value of finished goods inventory increased by 1 percentage point to 0.5%. Enterprise managers pointed out that personnel shortages remain one of the main factors hindering the completion of production plans. Negative evaluations were dominant in the mining industry (-24.1%) and processing manufacturing (-18.3%). Nevertheless, most managers maintain a neutral attitude and show caution regarding the current business situation, demands, and production growth potential.

International News Digest: Raw Material News-DOMO Chemicals offers its ISCC PLUS certified mass balanced PA6 resins Automotive News-Sumitomo Chemical's glass fiber reinforced PP materials are seeingin sales scale in Europe Packaging News-Danish recycler launches recycled PET lid for hot beverages Macro News-Turkey Initiates Anti-Dumping Investigation on Sodium Gluconate from China Price Information - The central parity rate of the RMB against the US dollar was reported at 7.1876, down by 43 points.   The following is the detailed international news: 1.DOMO Chemicals offers its ISCC PLUS certified mass balanced PA6 resins In line with DOMO Chemicals' corporate mission to develop polyamide solutions that contribute to a more sustainable world, the company has adopted the mass balance approach with the aim of providing bio-based raw materials to the customers.The entire portfolio of DOMAMID® PA6 base polymers is now available with the ISCC PLUS certification, offering increased customer choice while maintaining high quality standards.   2. Sumitomo Chemical's glass fiber reinforced PP material continues to expand its sales scale in Europe. Sumitomo Chemical showcased its "glass-based transparent display," glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP) automotive-grade material "THERMOFIL HP," and glass fiber-reinforced recycled PP material "THERMOFIL CIRCLE" at the recently concluded Human & Automotive Technology Expo 2025 Yokohama in Japan. The THERMOFIL series represents specialty plastics that integrate PP with glass fibers through exclusive compounding technology. Notably, THERMOFIL HP containing 50% glass fiber content has entered global commercial distribution, demonstrating superior strength compared to engineering plastics like polyamide (PA) 66 and PA6 with 30% glass fiber reinforcement, while maintaining a lighter weight advantage. 3. Danish recycler launches recycled PET lid for hot beverages Rigid food packaging manufacturer and recycler Faerch (Holstebro, Denmark) has introduced a hot drinking lid made from recycled PET. According to the company, the new lid is made from 85% rPET and is fully recyclable back into food-grade packaging. 4.Borealis invests €100M to expand PP capacity in Germany Borealis is investing over €100 million in a new line to produce High Melt Strength polypropylene (HMS PP) at its Burghausen plant in Germany, the Austria-based polymer manufacturer announced at its pre-K online event. 5.Global first:D3O Unveils Non-Newtonian Motorcycle Helmet Technology​ Technology media Newatlas published a blog post yesterday (May 26) reporting that the world's first non-Newtonian material motorcycle helmet has been developed and is expected to be available for sale by 2027. Developed by D3O, the helmet leverages a groundbreaking material whose viscosity dynamically adapts to external forces. During normal use, it remains soft and fluid-like for comfortable wear, but instantly hardens into a rigid, protective shell upon violent impact—delivering unmatched safety without compromising comfort. 6. Healthcare TPE Advancing Innovation in Loop Recorder Monitoring Technology KRAIBURG TPE Healthcare TPE Advancing Innovation in Loop Recorder Monitoring Technology.Detecting heart rhythm irregularities early can be life-saving. Loop recorder monitoring devices improve long-term cardiac care by continuously tracking irregular heart rhythms and storing data for diagnosis. These devices must meet strict safety, biocompatibility, and durability standards. Overseas macro market information: 【Turkey Initiates Anti-Dumping Investigation on Sodium Gluconate from China】On May 25, the Turkish Ministry of Trade issued Announcement No. 2025/9, stating that, at the request of Turkish producers, an anti-dumping investigation has been initiated against sodium gluconate originating from China. The investigation period for dumping is from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, and the injury investigation period is from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2024. 【Tariffs Accelerate Sustained Surge in US Used Car Market​】 Auto service enterprisesCox Automotive's data shows that at the beginning of May, dealers' used car inventory was only enough to last 43 days. Over the past two months, the average price of the 50 best-selling used cars in the U.S. has been increasing every week, approaching $29,000. In contrast, the average price of new cars exceeds $48,000. 【The Japanese cabinet approved388 billion yen in reserve funds to counter U.S. tariff measures】On the 27th local time, the Japanese government decided in a cabinet meeting to use 388 billion yen from the reserve fund as part of an emergency response plan to address the tariff measures implemented by the U.S. government. Among this, 288 billion yen will be used to subsidize summer electricity and gas costs, and 100 billion yen will be allocated for "key support for local delivery funds," which local governments can utilize based on specific circumstances. 【Japanese Finance Minister: Will Closely Monitor Developments in the Bond Market】Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Kato stated that interest rates are influenced by multiple factors, but the market generally believes that rising rates reflect concerns about the country's fiscal conditions. He emphasized that the government will closely monitor the bond market situation, including the ultra-long-term bond sector, and will continue to maintain close dialogue with bond investors and market participants. 【Korean Issuance20-year Treasury bond】South Korea issues 20-year government bonds with a yield of 2.715%. 【Canalys: Africa's smartphone market is expected to achieve a moderate growth of 3% by 2025.The African smartphone market got off to a good start in 2025, with regional shipments growing for the eighth consecutive quarter. The latest data from Canalys shows that in the first quarter of 2025, shipments increased by 6% year-on-year, reaching 19.4 million units. Canalys predicts that constrained by slow infrastructure development, rising sovereign debt, and macroeconomic instability, the African smartphone market is expected to see a moderate growth of 3% in 2025. 【The Japanese Ministry of Finance is considering reducing the issuance of ultra-long-term bonds and issuing more short-term bonds.】 Sources said that the Japanese Ministry of Finance will consider adjustments untilThe composition of the bond program for the fiscal year ending March 2026. It may involve reducing the issuance of ultra-long-term bonds and issuing more shorter-term bonds; the total issuance volume will remain unchanged. The Ministry of Finance will decide on the relevant changes after meeting with market participants in mid to late June. This move caused the yield on Japan's 20-year government bonds to plummet by 17.5 basis points during the trading day. 【Japan's government advisory group warns that rising bond yields will impact the fiscal situation.】  A Japanese government advisory panel has urged authorities to intensify fiscal consolidation efforts, as the Bank of Japan's sustained monetary tightening actions exacerbate the risk of rising debt repayment costs for Japan. According to a recommendation submitted on Tuesday to Katsunobu Kato, Japan's Finance Minister, the Fiscal System Council warned that the BOJ's interest rate hikes and reduction in bond purchases are causing a steady rise in government bond yields, necessitating more attention to Japan's fiscal situation. The council stated,"We must manage the fiscal situation with a high sense of urgency to prevent rising debt costs from crowding out necessary policy spending." 【Nomura Securities: If the government reduces issuanceThe ultra-long-term Japanese government bond market may further stabilize.】Nomura Securities said that the ultra-long Japanese government bond market could continue to stabilize in the future if the Japanese government decides to reduce the issuance. "Personally, I think the Ministry of Finance may start to shift to short-term borrowing from the third quarter, reducing the issuance of ultra-long bonds and increasing the issuance of short-term bonds," said Jin Moteki, a strategist at Nomura Securities. "This expectation seems to have led to a bull flattening of the Japanese government bond yield curve today." It is necessary to closely watch the results of the Japanese government bond primary dealer meeting, which is scheduled to be held on June 20. Price Information: 【 Central parity rate of RMB against USD】 The central parity rate of the yuan against the US dollar was set at7.1876, down 43 points; the previous trading day's midpoint was 7.1833, the previous trading day's official close was 7.1843, and the overnight closing was 7.1870. 【Upstream raw material USD market price】 Ethylene Asia:CFR Northeast Asia $780/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $850/ton. Propylene Northeast Asia:FOB Korea average price was $750 per ton, down $10 per ton; CFR China average price was $785 per ton, down $10 per ton. North Asia Frozen Cargo CIF Propane542-544 USD/ton; Butane 515-517 USD/ton. South China Frozen Goods CIF price in June, Propane 618-628 USD/ton; Butane 563-573 USD/ton. Taiwan region frozen cargo delivered price, propane$542-544/ton; Butane $515-517/ton. 【LLDPE USD market price Film:900 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Injection molding $990/ton (Dongguan Bonded Area spot); 【HDPE USD market price Film: The translation provided may be a partial one as the original Chinese text '' translates fully to 'Thin film' in English. Please provide the complete phrase or sentence for accurate translation.910-930 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Hollow:$865-870/ton (CFR Huangpu) 【LDPE USD market price】  Thin film:1035-1040 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); 【PP USD market price Homopolymerization:905-950 USD/ton (spot); Copolymerization:$955-1060/ton (CFR Huangpu), down $25/ton; Membrane material:$1025-1090/ton (CFR Huangpu) Transparent1095 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Tubing:$1160/ton (CFR Shanghai). Edit:Canoe  

News Headlines: Raw Materials News - $380 Million! PPG to Build New Aerospace Coatings Plant in the United States Automotive News - FF Officially Receives Factory and Operation Center in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE Packaging News-PepsiCo moves its sustainability goal posts Electronics and Electrical News-PLASTPOL Poland Exhibition ongoing! KINGFA responds to European market demands with new materials. Macroeconomic News- South Korea may hold a third round of trade negotiations with the U.S. after the election. Price InformationEthylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia $780/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $870/ton   The following are details of international news: 1、 $380 million! PPG to build new aerospace coatings factory in the USA Recently,PPG will invest $380 million to build a new aerospace coatings and sealants production facility in Shelby, North Carolina, USA. The construction project of this 62-acre plant will initially include production and warehousing units, with plans to start construction in October 2025 and expected completion in the first half of 2027. 2、FF officially receives the factory and operation center in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. On May 23, Faraday Future (FF) announced that it had officially taken over the Ras Al Khaimah factory and operations center in the UAE. This factory will be used to support the production of both FF and FX models. Previously, on May 21, 2025, during the "Made in UAE 2025" summit, the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) officially announced the cooperation project. FF’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Faraday Future Middle East FZ-LLC, signed the relevant agreement with RAKEZ on the spot. 3、Acquisition of SL Recycling site in Germany As expansion opportunities for German recycler Thees Kunststoffverarbeitung are limited at its headquarters location in the long term, the company plans to acquire an additional site in the neighbouring town of Bakum.According to Thees, the site already fulfils the requirements of a plastics recycler and offers enough space to efficiently organise and automate operations. By the end of 2025, Thees intends to install at least three recycling lines in Bakum and employ 10 to 15 people. The site is expected to focus primarily on the treatment of post-consumer waste, though the firm also recycles industrial waste. 4、Yizumi Turkey Subsidiary Opens: Leveraging the Asia-Europe Hub to Propel a New Global Landscape Local timeOn May 21, Yizumi Turkey Precision Machinery Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as: Turkey Subsidiary) held a grand opening ceremony and open day event in Istanbul's Silivri. Industry experts, representatives from agency companies, and client representatives attended the celebration. At the event, Mr. Zhang Tao, Director and Deputy General Manager of Yizumi, General Manager of the Injection Molding Machine Division, and General Manager of the International Business Division, delivered a speech. He pointed out that the establishment of the Turkey subsidiary is not only an important milestone in Yizumi's globalization journey, marking substantial progress in the company's strategic layout to deepen its presence in the Middle East and Africa markets, but also symbolizes a key step in Yizumi's commitment to localizing its strategy and building a new pattern of coordinated development between the Asian and European markets. 5、PepsiCo moves its sustainability goal posts PepsiCo. Inc. is cutting some key environmental goals related to plastic packaging and extending its timeline to achieve those new targets.The Purchase, N.Y.based beverage and snack food giant is replacing a previous goal of using 50 percent recycled content in plastic packaging by 2030 to with a new target of "40 percent or greater recycled content in our plastic packaging by 2035 or sooner," the company said. 6、Researchers to develop a process to remove pollutants from plastic production Researchers at the University of Minnesota are developing a process to remove pollutants from plastic production with selective combustion.The process involves engineering certain materials to only react to one molecule found in a mixture of hydrogen and carbon atoms, called hydrocarbons, and effectively removing toxic pollutants found in different plastics. 7、PLASTPOL in Poland is ongoing! KINGFA responds to European market demands with new materials. The 2025 PLASTPOL Poland Exhibition has grandly opened! At Pavilion 5, B21, KINGFA is fully demonstrating to the European market how our innovative materials empower industries and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals..Focusing on the Three Core Highlights of the KINGFA Booth：1、The Charm of Biobased Materials；"Turning waste into treasure"Recycled plastic(PCR)；3、Driving performance upgrades"Hardcore" Special Engineering Plastics(SEP)。 8、Packaging company must pay £476,995 after fraud conviction A company and its director have been ordered to pay £476,995 at Birmingham Crown Court following an investigation into the fraudulent entry of waste packaging data.At Birmingham Crown Court, Shaobo Qin, a director of EDU Case Ltd, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and was handed a 2-year prison sentence suspended for 18 months. Overseas macro market information: 【Surging higherJapan's rice price rose by 98.4% in April, marking the highest increase since 1971. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan announced that the data shows,In April, Japan's consumer price index excluding fresh food was 110.9, up 3.5% year-on-year. Among this, the rice category surged by 98.4% compared to the same period last year. This marks the largest increase since comparable data became available in 1971 and represents the seventh consecutive month of record-breaking growth. 【The EU will cancel the tariff-free policy for Ukrainian agricultural products.】  The spokesperson for the European CommissionOn the 22nd, it was stated that the EU will not extend the wartime "autonomous trade measures" implemented since 2022, which exempted Ukrainian agricultural products from tariffs. The EU spokesperson said that the current tariff-free policy for Ukraine will expire on June 5th, and from June 6th, agricultural trade between the EU and Ukraine will be carried out under the framework of the trade agreement signed by both parties in 2017. 【The European Parliament passes bill imposing tariffs on Russian and Belarussian fertilizers and agricultural products.】  Local timeOn the 22nd, the European Parliament voted to pass a new tariff bill imposing tariffs on fertilizers and some agricultural products from Russia and Belarus. Specific measures include a basic tariff of 6.5% on fertilizers imported from Russia and Belarus, with an additional tax of 40 to 45 euros per ton to be added during the period from 2025 to 2026. Regarding agricultural products, it was decided to impose a 50% tariff on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus that have not yet been subject to additional tariffs. 【To avoid uncertainty in trade policy, American importers are rushing to build up inventory. "Bonded warehouse" stockpiling Chinese goods Facing the abuse of export control measures by the US, American importers are accelerating the construction of bonded warehouses to stockpile Chinese goods, demonstrating the high degree of integration between the Chinese and American economies. According to ReutersOn the 21st, it was reported that importers in the United States, from clothing to auto parts, are rushing to build bonded warehouses for all kinds of Chinese imported goods. According to a previous CNN report, bonded warehouses can store imported goods for up to five years. These companies plan to use bonded warehouses to avoid tariffs and the uncertainty brought about by the US government's chaotic trade policies, waiting until the situation becomes clear before taking out the goods and paying tariffs at the latest rate. 【 Korea may hold a third round of trade talks with the U.S. after the general election】  According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea may hold a third round of trade talks with the United States after the general election. 【Report: The U.S. Trade Representative will inform the EU.Their proposal is not good enough. The British Financial Times reported that, according to the information obtained by the US Trade Representative's Office, People familiar with Lille's thinking revealed that Griel is preparing to tell EU counterpartsMaroš Šefčovič, the EU's proposal for trade negotiations did not meet U.S. expectations. The U.S. was dissatisfied with the EU's offer to only mutually reduce tariffs rather than commit to independently lowering them. 【European Central Bank Governing Council member Stournaras: Expected There will be an interest rate cut in June. European Central Bank Governing Council member Stournaras said that he expects Interest rates will be cut in June and then remain stable.   Price information: 【Central parity rate of RMB against USD】 The central parity rate of the yuan against the dollar is reported.7.1919, down 16 points; the previous trading day's midpoint was 7.1903, the previous trading day's official closing price was 7.2040, and the previous night session closed at 7.2060. 【 Upstream raw material US dollar market prices】 Ethylene Asia:CFR Northeast Asia $780/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $870/ton. Propylene Northeast Asia: FOB Korea average price $760/ton; CFR China average price $795/ton. North Asia frozen cargo, propane FAS price540.5-542.5 USD/ton; Butane 514.5-516.5 USD/ton. South China Frozen Goods June CIF prices: Propane 617-627 USD/ton; Butane 567-577 USD/ton. Taiwan region frozen cargo CIF price, propane540.5-542.5 USD/ton; Butane 514.5-516.5 USD/ton. 【LLDPE USD market price】 Film:900 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Injection molding: $990/ton (Dongguan Bonded Area spot); 【HDPE USD market price】 Thin film:910-930 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu) The void: It seems there might have been a misunderstanding in the original request as "" translates directly to "middle air" or "center hollow", not "The void". If you meant something else, please provide more context.$865-880 per ton (CFR Huangpu) 【LDPE USD market price】 Film:1040-1060 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu) 【PP USD market price】 Uniform aggregation:970-985 USD/ton (spot); Copolymerization:980-1060 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Membrane material:1025-1090 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Transparent:1030-1100 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu), an increase of 15 USD/ton; Pipe materials:1,160 USD/ton (CFR Shanghai).  

Following President Trump's announcement regarding imports Imposing higher tariffs, the global automotive industry is already preparing for the tough times ahead. The latest developments in Europe may make the situation worse, as the EU has uncovered another major scam in modern automotive history. In the past day, the European Commission has imposed a total fine of 458 million euros (approximately 3.635 billion yuan) on 15 large car manufacturers operating in Europe and the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) for their involvement in "a long-standing End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) recycling monopoly alliance". All these companies admitted to participating in the monopoly alliance and agreed to settle. Mercedes-Benz was also part of the cartel, but the company was granted full immunity as a key whistleblower, saving it from a 35-million-euro ($282-million) fine. Some well-known car manufacturers, including Stellantis (and its subsidiary Opel), Mitsubishi, and Ford, received certain reductions in fines for cooperating with the European Commission. EU Directive on End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) refer to cars that are no longer suitable for road use due to age, wear, or damage. These vehicles are typically dismantled and processed accordingly to achieve goals of recycling, reusing, and properly disposing of them, thereby reducing waste generation and recovering valuable materials such as metals, plastics, and glass. This effort is aimed at better supporting the European Union's decarbonization and recycling objectives. The European Union passed the 2000/53/EC Directive on end-of-life vehicles (the "ELV Directive") in 2000, which began to be implemented in 2002. Every year, millions of cars are scrapped in Europe. If end-of-life vehicles are not managed properly, they can pose a threat to the environment and lead to a significant loss of materials. The introduction of the directive aims to minimize the environmental impact of end-of-life vehicles and improve the environmental performance of all economic operators involved in the vehicle life cycle. The directive contains regulations on the collection, treatment, recycling, and reuse of end-of-life vehicles. The European Union's End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) directive is set to undergo a major revision, with the new ELV directive on the horizon. Since the EU's publication of the "Circular Requirements for Vehicle Design and End-of-Life Vehicle Management" (the "new ELV directive") proposal on July 13, 2023, it has attracted widespread attention from global automotive companies. On January 29, 2025, the European Parliament officially released the draft report on the resolution of the new ELV directive proposal, with the legislative process continuing to advance. The draft mentions the following key amendments: Recycled Plastic Proportion Adjustment:The new ELV directive aims to increase the use of recycled plastics in vehicles. The European Commission initially proposed a 25% recycled plastic ratio for new cars, but the European Parliament considered it to be "reasonable and realistic" and reduced the ratio to 20%. At the same time, the proportion of recycled plastics from scrapped vehicles also dropped from the originally proposed 25% to 15%. Expansion of sources for recycled plastics:The sources of recycled plastics have been expanded in the revised version. To achieve the 20% quota, manufacturers can now use pre-consumer, post-consumer waste plastics, and bio-based plastics in addition to the original sources, making it more flexible to achieve sustainability goals. Redefinition of plastic types:The revised regulations stipulate that only thermoplastic and polyurethane foam plastics are considered as plastics. Since thermoset plastics are difficult to recycle, including them would increase industrial costs. This ensures that only recyclable plastics are counted towards the target, and allows for adjustments to the regulations based on future advancements in recycling technology. Strengthen supervision and evaluation:The European Parliament has called on the European Commission to develop standard methods for calculating and verifying the recycled content within 12 months of the entry into force of the regulation, taking into account advanced technologies such as chemical recycling, and to introduce digital product passports to improve the traceability of recycled plastics. Punishment Reason The monopoly alliance began in May 2002 and lasted until September 2017, spanning 15 years. According to the investigation results of the European Commission, 16 major car manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, which was not fined, reached an anti-competitive agreement with the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) and acted in concert in the field of end-of-life vehicle recycling. Specifically, these automakers have improper collusion in the following two aspects: The "zero processing cost" strategy: They unanimously agreed not to pay vehicle dismantlers for processing end-of-life vehicles, believing that the recycling of end-of-life vehicles is a profitable business and thus no service fees need to be paid. Additionally, these companies shared commercially sensitive information with vehicle dismantlers and coordinated their actions towards the dismantlers. Concealing recycling information: They decided not to publicize the quantity of recyclable parts in scrapped vehicles, the reuse rate, or the use of recycled materials in new cars. The aim is to prevent consumers from considering these environmental factors when purchasing vehicles, thereby reducing the competitive pressure on companies due to environmental requirements. According to the current European Union End of Life Vehicles (ELV) directive - 2000/53/EC, the last owner of a scrapped vehicle has the right to hand it over to dismantlers for free, and car manufacturers are obliged to bear the relevant costs if necessary. In addition, car companies are obliged to inform consumers about the recyclability of the vehicle.

Composites specialist Gurit has sold its PET recycling plant in Italy as previously announced. The site in Carmignano di Brenta was acquired by recycling company Aliplast , a subsidiary of the Hera Group. The purchase price was not disclosed. With five plants across Italy, France, Poland, and Spain, the Hera Group subsidiary reportedly processes more than 100,000 t/y of plastics waste (Photo: Hera Group） The facility in Carmignano di Brenta, located near the northern Italian city of Vicenza, has a capacity of 15,000 t/y of PET recyclate. With this acquisition, Aliplast not only expands its recycling capacity, but also gains additional storage space.Aliplast, which operates sorting and recycling sites in Italy (Borgolavezzaro, Gualdo Cattaneo, Formigine, and Quinto di Treviso), France (La Wantzenau), Poland (Tuszyn), and Spain (Onda), produces over 100,000 t/y of recyclates based on PET, LDPE, and HDPE, as well as polypropylene from post-consumer waste.