International News Guide: Raw Material News - EU to Establish Critical Chemical Alliance to Safeguard Supply Chain Security Automotive News - China and the EU Agree to Establish a Working Group to Cooperate on Cross-Border Data Flow in the Automotive Sector Electronic News - SABIC Launches First Flame-Retardant PBT Nano Injection Molding Material with Excellent Bonding Strength and Mechanical Properties Packaging News - German associations push for mandatory compostable produce bags Medical News - Sengkang General Hospital in Singapore Adopts 3D-Printed TPU Materials to Customize Orthotic Insoles for Diabetics Macro News - US Imposes Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese Graphite Price information - RMB/USD Central Parity Rate Reports 7.1498, Down by 37 Pips    details of international news:   1. Escalation of Retaliatory Measures! EU Continues to Pressure the US According to two officials who were briefed on the talks, the EU is preparing a list of possible tariffs on US services and export control measures as part of potential retaliatory actions if trade negotiations with Washington fail. In response to US President Trump's tariffs, the European Commission is compiling this list of measures, which still needs to be submitted to EU member states. Trump has announced that he plans to impose a 30% tariff on the EU bloc starting from August 1. Although Brussels had previously warned that it could expand the transatlantic trade war to services if negotiations to avoid these tariffs fail, it has so far not submitted specific measures to European capitals. One of the officials emphasized that the list will not only target US tech companies. This list will be an additional measure beyond the retaliatory proposal already being discussed by EU countries targeting 72 billion euros of annual US imports, which includes tariffs on Boeing aircraft, automobiles, and bourbon whiskey. 2. EU to Establish Critical Chemical Alliance to Safeguard Supply Chain Security The EU's executive body stated that the European Commission will work with member states and the chemical industry to support the production of chemicals identified as crucial to Europe's industrial supply chains. The European Commission said it will establish a Critical Chemical Alliance later this year, which will bring together the Commission, member states, and various stakeholders as part of a broader plan to revitalize Europe's chemical industry. In a statement, the Commission said the alliance will "identify key production sites in need of policy support and address trade issues such as supply chain dependencies and market distortions". This initiative draws on another alliance established earlier, which is responsible for identifying metals and minerals crucial to the energy transition. Subsequently, the EU set mining, processing, and recycling targets for 17 strategic materials. 3. Agilyx Acquires 44% Stake in Europe’s TopPlastic RecyclerGreenDot Global Agilyx acquires 44% of GreenDot, expanding into Europe’s recycling market and strengthening its global advanced plasticsrecycling platform. 4. Turkey: Anti-Dumping Measures on China-Related Polyethylene, Polypropylene Waterproof Tarpaulins and Polymer Plastic Products to Expire Soon According to the China Trade Remedy Information Network, on July 16, 2025, Turkey's Ministry of Trade issued Announcement No. 2025/15, stating that anti-dumping measures on polyethylene and polypropylene waterproof tarpaulins and polymer plastic products [Turkish: Polietilen ve polipropilenden mamul şerit veya benzerlerinden dokunmuş mensucat (yalnız dokuma brandalar)] originating from China and Vietnam will expire on May 6, 2026. Stakeholders should submit applications and evidence materials for sunset review investigations no later than 3 months before the expiration date. The Turkish tariff codes for the products are 3921.90.60.00.11, 3921.90.60.00.13, and 3926.90.97.90.18. The announcement takes effect from the date of issuance. 5. SABIC Launches First Flame-Retardant PBT Nano Injection Molding Material with Excellent Bonding Strength and Mechanical Properties SABIC announced the launch of a new product in its LNP™ THERMOTUF™ specialty composite series. The new LNP™ THERMOTUF™ WF0087N composite is the industry's first polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)-based nano-molding technology (NMT) material, combining excellent flame retardancy and superior mechanical properties. It meets the growing demand of the consumer electronics industry for lightweight and durable metal-plastic composite components, such as smartphone middle frames. In addition, the material's flame retardancy helps customers comply with the latest IEC 62368-1 safety standards for consumer electronic equipment. The LNP™ THERMOTUF™ WF0087N composite won the 2025 Edison Award. 6. Messe Düsseldorf unites its global plastics, rubber events under K-Alliance brand Germany-based global exhibition organizer Messe Düsseldorf is launching a new umbrella brand called “K-Alliance” to unite its worldwide plastics and rubber trade fairs under one identity, which replaces the previous Global Gate brand. “Global players in the plastics and rubber industry require appropriate platforms for direct market entry in growth regions,” said Thomas Franken, director of K. “Messe Düsseldorf has pooled its worldwide activities under the Global Gate brand, which will now become the K–Alliance.” Officials said the new name highlights not just market access but also strategic partnerships and alliances within the industry’s global trade fair network. “The previous name especially emphasized Messe Düsseldorf’s function as a door opener for entering promising sales markets,” Franken said. “The designation K-Alliance now places a clearer focus on the strong partnerships and alliances that our constantly growing, worldwide network of trade fairs related to plastics and rubber stands for.” The K-Alliance currently encompasses 11 global trade fairs, the biggest of which is the K fair; K 2025 is scheduled for Oct. 8-15 in Düsseldorf, with more than 3,200 exhibitors expected to showcase technologies in manufacturing, processing and finishing. 7. German associations push for mandatory compostable produce bags Industry associations are calling for compostable fruit and vegetable bags to become mandatory under the Packaging and Packaging Regulation (PPWR).The IK Industrial Association for Plastics Packaging, Plastics Europe Germany, European Bioplastics, Polykum, Carmen, and the nova Institute have published a position paper providing recommendations for Germany to implement the requirement at national level. 8. China and the EU Agree to Establish a Working Group to Cooperate on Cross-Border Data Flow in the Automotive Sector On July 17 , the second meeting of the China-EU Cross-Border Data Flow Exchange Mechanism was held in Brussels. Wang Jingtao, Vice Minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China, and Sabine Weyand, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Trade of the European Commission, co-chaired the meeting. The meeting reviewed the positive progress made since the establishment of the mechanism, believing that the mechanism has played an important role in promoting China-EU cross-border data flow. The two sides had in-depth, pragmatic, and constructive exchanges on issues related to China-EU cross-border data flow, and reached broad consensus on further leveraging the mechanism under the principle of two-way reciprocity and promoting rule alignment, in light of the demands of enterprises from both sides. The two sides agreed to establish a working group to cooperate on cross-border data flow in the automotive sector. 9.Sengkang General Hospital in Singapore Adopts 3D-Printed TPU Materials to Customize Orthotic Insoles for Diabetics The podiatry team at Sengkang General Hospital in Singapore is pioneering an innovative approach to diabetic foot care. Currently, the team is producing 3D-printed custom orthotic insoles in-house. These insoles are 3D-printed using thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Preliminary results show that compared with traditional insoles (23% reduction in peak pressure, 40% improvement in pressure distribution), the new insoles can reduce plantar peak pressure by up to 28.5% and improve pressure distribution by 52.7%.   Overseas macro markets:   【Putin: Europe's Abandonment of Russian Natural Gas Has Negatively Affected Its Industry】 On the 17th, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in an interview that Europe's decision to abandon Russian natural gas has had a negative impact on its industry. In addition, Russian media reported that EU imports of Russian oil in May hit a three-month high, indicating that some EU member states still rely on Russian oil. 【Alcoa: Tariffs Keep Increasing Production Costs】 According to Bloomberg, Alcoa, the largest aluminum producer in the US, stated that US tariff policies are continuously increasing the company's production costs, and due to the impact of tariffs, its US customers are paying more for aluminum. 【US Media: US Imposes Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese Graphite】 According to Bloomberg, the US has imposed a preliminary anti-dumping duty of 93.5% on graphite from China. A statement from the US Department of Commerce noted: "The US Department of Commerce has preliminarily determined to impose a 93.5% anti-dumping duty on imports of key battery material graphite from China due to unfair subsidies for these materials." It is worth noting that the final ruling is expected to be made by December 5 【Reliance Industries' Market Value Grows by 40 Billion USD This Year】 Shares of India's Reliance Industries have significantly outperformed India's benchmark stock index this year, with the largest lead in five years. So far this year, shares of India's most valuable company have surged 22%, while the NSE Nifty 50 index has risen only 6% in the same period. Controlled by Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Industries has increased its market value by 40 billion USD in 2025, accounting for nearly one-third of the market value growth of India's benchmark stock index.   Price information:   【RMB/USD Central Parity Rate】 The RMB/USD central parity rate was reported at 7.1498, down by 37 pips; the previous trading day's central parity rate was 7.1461, the previous trading day's official closing price was 7.1796, and the previous night's closing price was 7.1809. 【Upstream raw material USD market price】 Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia $820/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $830/ton. Acrylic Northeast Asia: FOB Korea average price is $740/ton; CFR China average price is $770/ton, up $5/ton. Propane: North Asia frozen cargo CIF price, propane $512-514/ton; butane $482-484/ton. The import price of South China frozen goods in August is as follows: propane 549-559 USD/ton; butane 520-528 USD/ton. The landed price of frozen goods in Taiwan is propane at 512-514 USD/ton; butane at 482-484 USD/ton. 【LLDPE USD market price】 Film: 860-910 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Injection molding: $950/ton (CFR Dongguan); 【HDPE USD market price】 Film: $920/ton (CFR Huangpu); Hollow: 855-860 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); 【LDPE USD market price】 Film: $1070-1090/ton (CFR Huangpu); Coating: $1350/ton (CFR Huangpu) 【PP USD market price】 Average aggregation: 965 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Co-polymerization: 940-950 USD/ton (CFR Nansha); Membrane material: 1030 USD/ton (CFR Nansha); Transparent: $1,085/ton (CFR Huangpu); Pipes: 1160 USD/ton (CFR Shanghai).

This week, the downward trend of polyester filament has not stopped, continuing to drop by 50-100 yuan/ton compared to last week. When will such continuous decline come to an end?   The thunder is loud, but the rain is light in the reduced harvest. Recently, with the continuous decline in polyester prices, news of reduced production for polyester filament has been rampant. Reports indicate that two factories in Wuxi have shut down for maintenance, with one having a capacity of 240,000 tons and the other 400,000 tons. Two leading enterprises in Tongxiang have a combined maintenance of 1.645 million tons of capacity (1.495 million tons + 150,000 tons). A large factory in Xiaoshan has a 150,000-ton unit undergoing maintenance, while an 80,000-ton unit in a factory in Shaoxing has stopped production. The Ningbo region has seen particularly concentrated reductions, involving multiple companies, including a complete shutdown of a 250,000-ton unit, maintenance of 144,000 tons and 120,000 tons units, and a complete closure of another 120,000-ton capacity. The northern and Shandong regions have also been affected, with a factory in Liaoning having a 200,000-ton unit undergoing maintenance, and a small enterprise in Weifang, Shandong, halting a capacity of 35,000 tons. If we add up all these capacities, the total amount involved reaches as high as 3.384 million tons, which is quite substantial. According to data statistics from Longzhong Information, in the recent week, the production of polyester filament reached 759,200 tons, an increase of 9,600 tons compared to the previous week, with a growth rate of 1.28%. The capacity utilization rate was 92.94%, an increase of 1.17 percentage points from the previous week. The production of polyester filament not only did not decrease but instead increased. From the current situation, this round of production cuts indeed seems to be all noise and no substance, and it has largely contributed to the downward trend in polyester filament prices.   No promotions, no selling silk. Although the reduction in polyester filament production is insufficient and the output has increased instead of decreased, the final result is a continuous increase in inventory. With prices continuing to decline and a significant halt in production on the weaving side during the off-season, the downstream market is currently showing a clear wait-and-see attitude, with only essential purchases being made. Since late June, the production and sales of polyester filament have been mediocre. Last week, the weekly average production and sales rate of polyester filament was 37%. During the week, the overall production and sales rate of manufacturing enterprises was around 30-40%. Only on July 10 did the production and sales rate see a partial rebound, reaching around 200% on that day, with the average production and sales rate of sample enterprises exceeding 50%. This week, the weekly average production and sales of polyester filament has not shown significant improvement, remaining at only 38%, with production and sales under pressure. The inventory of manufacturing enterprises continues to grow. As of July 17, the inventory of polyester POY factories rose to 25.4 days, the inventory of polyester FDY factories increased to 25.6 days, and the inventory of polyester DTY rose to 30.7 days. Once the inventory comes under pressure, polyester factories begin to promote discounts, leading to a continuous decline in the price of polyester filament.   Polyester chips have started to reduce production. Although the reduction in polyester filament production is currently not as strong as expected, the reduction in another important area of polyester, polyester chips, is being carried out vigorously. On the evening of July 3, Wankai New Materials announced that, based on the overall industry situation and the company's production and operational needs, it plans to gradually adjust its PET production schedule starting from recent days, and will organize equipment maintenance during the reduction period. This production cut and maintenance will involve a PET capacity of 600,000 tons, accounting for 20% of the company's total capacity. According to statistics, between June and July, several leading companies have joined the production reduction campaign: China Resources Chemical has started to reduce production by 20% at its three factories since June 22, involving a capacity of 660,000 tons of polyester bottle flakes; Sanfangxiang has cumulatively stopped 1 million tons of capacity since the end of May, with no confirmed restart date; Yisheng plans to implement production cuts starting July 1, with a shutdown of 750,000 tons at its Hainan base and 350,000 tons at its Daqing base. This concentrated production reduction involves a total capacity of 3.36 million tons, accounting for 16.3% of domestic total capacity. As the plan progresses, the domestic polyester bottle flakes operating rate is expected to drop to around 75%. With the increased reduction in polyester chip production, the prices of polyester chips have begun to stabilize recently amid a decline in upstream raw materials, and profits have started to rebound. Perhaps it will be only when the major factories in the filament sector truly reach a consensus on production cuts, like in the slicing industry, that the price of polyester filament can return to stability.

Recently, many places across the country have been experiencing extremely high temperatures. If cars are parked outdoors, the temperature inside can reach outrageous levels. So the question arises, with the same car, the same environmental temperature, and direct sunlight, which color is the most heat-resistant? Recently, a blogger conducted a temperature measurement test. The test car selected was the Xiaomi YU7, which offers nine car paint colors: gemstone green, lava orange, titanium metallic, shadow blue, flowing gold pink, Danxia purple, deep sea blue, basalt gray, and pearl white. The sample size is large enough. The ambient temperature that day was 36℃, and the specific results are as follows (excluding lava orange): Emerald green: 68℃, the highest in the entire venue! Danxia Purple: 65.5℃, ranked second. Basalt ash: 60.7℃. Deep sea blue: 55.8℃. Titanium metal color: 50.7℃. Shadow blue: 45℃. Gold powder: 45℃. Pearl White: 35℃, the lowest in the entire field, a full 33℃ lower than the top-ranked Gem Green. Although the test is not very rigorous, as it only measured the temperature of the car's exterior, it can still indicate some issues. Generally speaking, dark car paint absorbs the most heat, especially black, which almost does not reflect visible light and infrared rays from sunlight, causing the body temperature to rise more noticeably. Data shows that the interior temperature of black vehicles is often 10-15℃ higher than that of vehicles with lighter paint colors. Correspondingly, light-colored car paints such as white and silver can reflect more light and have weaker heat absorption, making them the coolest, while colored car paints like red and blue have heat absorption properties that are between those of black and light-colored paints. Of course, if conditions permit, it is best to park in an underground parking lot during the summer, as this is the most effective way to prevent the temperature inside the car from becoming too high.

The podiatry team at Sengkang General Hospital in Singapore is pioneering an innovative approach to diabetic foot care. Currently, the team is producing custom 3D-printed orthotic insoles in-house. These insoles are made of thermoplastic polyurethane.TPUThe new insoles, made through 3D printing, show preliminary results indicating that compared to traditional insoles (with a 23% reduction in peak pressure and a 40% improvement in pressure distribution), the new insoles can reduce peak pressure by up to 28.5% and achieve a pressure distribution improvement rate of 52.7%. Singapore does not produce standard pressure-reducing EVA foam insoles locally and needs to source them from overseas. Patients must wait two months from placing an order to receiving the product, and if adjustments are needed, it takes even longer. However, 3D printing technology can provide patients with precisely customized insoles in just one week. The team pointed out that there are currently over 400,000 diabetes patients in Singapore, and if the current trend continues, the number of patients could exceed one million by 2050. As many as one-quarter of diabetes patients may develop foot ulcers, and over 80% of lower limb amputation surgeries are caused by these ulcers. Customized pressure-reducing insoles are crucial for preventing new ulcers and promoting wound healing, especially for patients with diabetic neuropathy.   First, the doctor creates a foam mold of the patient's foot and performs a digital scan. Based on the scanning data, insoles with different densities and precise shape adjustments are designed for different areas of the foot. The digital workflow allows for quick modifications to the design plan at any time. The podiatry treatment team at Sengkang General Hospital collaborated with the orthopedic and plastic surgery teams at the hospital and the 3D printing center at Singapore General Hospital to develop this product. Through detailed biomechanical examinations and pressure distribution analysis, a comprehensive assessment is conducted to create a precise digital model tailored to each patient's foot structure and pressure points. Orthopedic doctor Dickson Chau stated, "The advances in 3D printing technology have opened up new possibilities for patient care. After extensive testing of different materials and printing parameters, as well as valuable exchanges of experience with the 3D printing center at Singapore General Hospital, we have established a production process that ensures stable and reliable quality of insoles. This self-production capability allows us to quickly optimize products based on patient feedback, which is crucial for achieving the best therapeutic effects."

As the construction industry transitions towards sustainability, automation, and digitalization, polymer composites (PCs) combined with 3D printing technology are becoming a significant driving force for innovation in civil engineering. This technology not only enables the efficient fabrication of complex engineering structures but also significantly reduces material waste, offering new possibilities for future infrastructure development. Based on the latest research from the journal *Automation in Construction*, this article systematically explores the current applications, real-world cases, and future development trends of polymer composites in 3D printing, while analyzing existing technical challenges and potential solutions. 1. Material System and Printing Technology 1. Classification of Polymer Matrices In terms of material selection, polymer composites are mainly divided into two categories: thermoplastics and thermosets. Thermoplastic polymers such as PLA, ABS, and PEEK have become the preferred materials for 3D printing due to their recyclability and ease of processing. Among them, PLA, as a biodegradable material, has environmental advantages, but its heat resistance and impact resistance are poor, necessitating performance enhancement through modification techniques. In contrast, ABS, with its excellent impact resistance and higher glass transition temperature, is more suitable for outdoor structural components. High-performance materials like PEEK and ULTEM are widely used in infrastructure projects in extreme environments due to their outstanding high-temperature resistance, mechanical strength, and chemical stability. Thermosetting polymers are formed through photopolymerization techniques (such as SLA/DLP); although they possess excellent heat resistance and dimensional stability, their irreversible cross-linked structure makes recycling difficult, limiting their application in sustainable construction. Additionally, the introduction of recycled polymers like PET and HDPE further reduces environmental burden, but the performance degradation issues caused by multiple processing still need to be addressed. 2. Enhanced Composites In terms of enhanced materials, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites stand out. Glass fiber (GFRP) has become an ideal choice for cyclic load structures due to its high cost-performance ratio and excellent fatigue resistance. Carbon fiber (CFRP), on the other hand, occupies an important position in precision structural components due to its extremely high strength-to-weight ratio and low thermal expansion coefficient. At the same time, the introduction of natural fibers (such as bamboo and hemp) gives composites biodegradable properties, but issues such as poor moisture resistance and weather resistance still need to be addressed. The addition of particulate reinforcement materials like silica and alumina further enhances the stiffness and wear resistance of the composites, while the introduction of carbon-based materials improves electrical conductivity, providing possibilities for the development of multifunctional structures. 3. Large Component Printing Technology In the field of large component manufacturing, 3D printing technology exhibits unique advantages. Extrusion-based 3D printing (E3DP) is currently the most widely used technology in civil engineering, capable of handling concrete, ceramics, and various thermoplastic materials to meet the manufacturing needs of large-scale structures. The binder jetting technology effectively avoids thermal deformation issues by layer-by-layer binding of powder materials (such as gypsum and cement). The introduction of robotic manufacturing systems (RLFAM) enables support-free printing of complex geometries through multi-axis robotic arms and supports continuous fiber reinforcement, opening new avenues for the manufacturing of high-performance structures. Figure 1 (a) The world's largest polymer 3D printer developed by the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University of Maine, (b) The CEAD company Flexbot large-scale robotic 3D printing and milling system. II. Innovative Application Cases Bridge Engineering Practical engineering cases have fully demonstrated the tremendous potential of this technology. In bridge construction, a 6.5-meter span pedestrian bridge in Rotterdam, Netherlands, was made using glass fiber reinforced PET material, achieving a 50% reduction in carbon footprint while showcasing excellent durability. The Liu Yun Bridge project in China utilized ASA-3012 material and completed the printing of a 17.5-meter long bridge in just 35 days, withstanding severe environmental tests thanks to its weather resistance. Figure 2 3D printed fiber-reinforced composite material cases: (a) pedestrian bridge in Rotterdam, Netherlands, (b) pedestrian bridge in the Limerick area, Netherlands, (c) 3D printed FRP components of the Liuyun Bridge, China. 2. Architectural Structure In the field of architecture, the American BioHome 3D project uses 100% wood fiber and bio-resin for printing, completing the entire construction in just 48 hours, with all materials being recyclable. Australia's Jindi modular housing project innovatively uses recycled plastic as its core material, covered with a cement layer, addressing the issue of plastic pollution while meeting fire safety requirements. The 3D-printed houses developed by Azure in Los Angeles can be completed in just 24 hours per 200-square-foot module, while also consuming 150,000 discarded plastic bottles, providing a new approach to urban waste management. Figure 3 3D printed fiber-reinforced composite building: (a) BioHome 3D house developed by the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University of Maine, (b) Azur tiny house in the United States. Reinforcement and Seismic Resistance In the field of structural reinforcement, 3D printing technology has also made remarkable contributions. The application of carbon fiber reinforced PLA reinforcement has improved the energy dissipation capacity of concrete beam-column joints after high-temperature damage by 40%. Additionally, concrete slabs reinforced with continuously 3D printed carbon fiber/nylon grids have demonstrated a significant increase in shear modulus, providing a new solution for seismic reinforcement of building structures. Three, Core Challenges However, this technology still faces numerous challenges. Firstly, the layer-by-layer deposition manufacturing method leads to anisotropic mechanical properties of the materials, and insufficient interlayer bonding strength directly affects the load-bearing capacity of the overall structure. Secondly, there are significant environmental durability issues; ultraviolet radiation and moisture erosion can accelerate the aging of natural fiber composites, while the fire ratings of most polymer materials often fail to meet building safety standards. Furthermore, there are bottlenecks in large-scale production; large printing equipment requires substantial space and has low production efficiency, as printing a 5,800-kilogram bridge, for instance, may take continuously 30 days to complete. In addition, the lack of industry standards results in a lack of unified specifications for the design, certification, and quality control of 3D printed structures. Finally, the issue of material recycling urgently needs to be addressed, especially since the closed-loop recycling technology for thermosetting polymers and fiber-reinforced composites is not yet mature. Four. Future Directions Looking to the future, breakthroughs need to be achieved in multiple areas. Process optimization is the primary task; developing multi-axis printing and in-situ consolidation technology is expected to improve interlayer bonding strength, while combining additive manufacturing with traditional subtractive processes can enhance forming precision. The integration of smart materials will endow structures with new functions, such as embedding sensors for health monitoring or using self-repairing polymers to extend service life. The research and development of sustainable materials is also crucial; the promotion and application of bio-based polymers and natural fiber composites will significantly reduce carbon emissions in the industry. For specific application scenarios, such as maritime engineering, customized solutions that are corrosion-resistant and flood-resistant need to be developed. Finally, policy-driven support is essential; establishing a comprehensive performance database and lifecycle assessment standards will provide institutional guarantees for the promotion of technology. V. Conclusion In summary, the 3D printing technology for polymer composites is reshaping the field of civil engineering through its unique capabilities in customized design, lightweight advantages, and rapid construction. Although challenges such as performance consistency, environmental durability, and large-scale production still exist, with advancements in material innovation, process improvements, and the establishment of standard systems, this technology will undoubtedly play a more critical role in future infrastructure development, providing key technical support for achieving a sustainable and high-performance built environment. In practical cases, CFRP composites have achieved tensile strengths of over 500MPa, GFRP's flexural strength can reach 200MPa, and the use of recycled PET materials can reduce virgin plastic consumption by 70%. The production process of bio-based PLA can decrease energy consumption by 60%. Although robotic printing can reduce the cost of complex components by 30%, the current material costs are still higher than traditional concrete, which will be a key area for future breakthroughs.

The podiatry team at Sengkang General Hospital in Singapore is pioneering an innovative approach to diabetic foot care. Currently, the team is producing custom 3D-printed orthotic insoles in-house. These insoles are made of thermoplastic polyurethane.TPUThe new insoles, made through 3D printing, show preliminary results indicating that compared to traditional insoles (with a 23% reduction in peak pressure and a 40% improvement in pressure distribution), the new insoles can reduce peak pressure by up to 28.5% and achieve a pressure distribution improvement rate of 52.7%. Singapore does not produce standard pressure-reducing EVA foam insoles locally and needs to source them from overseas. Patients must wait two months from placing an order to receiving the product, and if adjustments are needed, it takes even longer. However, 3D printing technology can provide patients with precisely customized insoles in just one week. The team pointed out that there are currently over 400,000 diabetes patients in Singapore, and if the current trend continues, the number of patients could exceed one million by 2050. As many as one-quarter of diabetes patients may develop foot ulcers, and over 80% of lower limb amputation surgeries are caused by these ulcers. Customized pressure-reducing insoles are crucial for preventing new ulcers and promoting wound healing, especially for patients with diabetic neuropathy.   First, the doctor creates a foam mold of the patient's foot and performs a digital scan. Based on the scanning data, insoles with different densities and precise shape adjustments are designed for different areas of the foot. The digital workflow allows for quick modifications to the design plan at any time. The podiatry treatment team at Sengkang General Hospital collaborated with the orthopedic and plastic surgery teams at the hospital and the 3D printing center at Singapore General Hospital to develop this product. Through detailed biomechanical examinations and pressure distribution analysis, a comprehensive assessment is conducted to create a precise digital model tailored to each patient's foot structure and pressure points. Orthopedic doctor Dickson Chau stated, "The advances in 3D printing technology have opened up new possibilities for patient care. After extensive testing of different materials and printing parameters, as well as valuable exchanges of experience with the 3D printing center at Singapore General Hospital, we have established a production process that ensures stable and reliable quality of insoles. This self-production capability allows us to quickly optimize products based on patient feedback, which is crucial for achieving the best therapeutic effects."

July 16, 2025SABICAnnounces the launch of a new product in its LNP™ THERMOTUF™ specialty composite series. The new LNP™ THERMOTUF™ WF0087N composite material is the industry's first based on polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).PBTThe nano-molding technology (NMT) material has excellent flame-retardant properties and outstanding mechanical performance. It meets the growing demand in the consumer electronics industry for lightweight and durable metal-plastic composite parts (such as the frames of smartphones). In addition, the material's flame-retardant properties help customers comply with the latest IEC 62368-1 safety standard for consumer electronic devices. LNP™ THERMOTUF™ WF0087N composite material has been awarded the 2025 Edison Award. SABIC's Director of R&D and Applications for the Asia Pacific region, Jenny Wang, stated: "As smartphones continue to break through in design, wireless connectivity, and charging speed, the industry urgently needs advanced materials to match these developments. The launch of this new flame-retardant nano-injection composite material demonstrates SABIC's commitment to the consumer electronics market. We will leverage breakthrough materials to help our customers enhance the performance, safety, compliance for mass production, and manufacturing efficiency of devices such as smartphones." Expand the advantages of nanomolding technology. Nano Molding Technology (NMT) creates tightly bonded composites by injecting plastic resin into chemically treated metal surfaces. Compared to die casting and insert molding techniques, NMT helps manufacturers achieve lightweight, thin-walled designs, radio frequency signal permeability, superior aesthetics, and a more streamlined processing workflow, while also enhancing the waterproof and dustproof performance of electronic devices. In addition to these advantages, LNP™ THERMOTUF™ composite materials retain good bonding strength and mechanical properties (such as impact resistance) while adding thin-wall flame retardant performance (UL94 V0 at 1.0 mm). Their metal bonding strength is improved by about 60% compared to conventional flame-retardant PBT resins, helping designers meet the stringent IP68 waterproof and dustproof standards. This innovative material also possesses the following characteristics: excellent resistance to corrosion from anodic oxidation treatment, support for customized coloring to achieve aesthetic design, and dielectric properties that ensure signal transmission efficiency for multi-antenna devices. Its main application scenarios include antenna dividers and various structural components for smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and laptops.

The Düsseldorf Exhibition Company (Messe Düsseldorf), a global exhibition organizer based in Germany, is launching a new brand called "K-Alliance," aimed at integrating its global exhibitions in the plastics and rubber industry under the same branding, replacing the previous "Global Gate" brand. "Global participants in the plastics and rubber industry need the right platform to directly access markets in growth regions," said Thomas Franken, Director of the K Department. "The Düsseldorf Exhibition Company previously integrated its global business under the 'Global Gate' brand, which is now being upgraded to 'K-Alliance.'" The official statement noted that the new name not only highlights the market access function but also emphasizes the strategic partnerships and alliances within the global trade fair network of the industry. Franken pointed out, "The previous name focused on the Düsseldorf Exhibition Company's role as a 'gatekeeper' to help companies enter potentially lucrative sales markets; whereas the name 'K-Alliance' more clearly focuses on the strong spirit of cooperation and alliance represented by our expanding global network of plastics and rubber-related exhibitions." Currently, K-Alliance encompasses 11 global exhibitions, the largest of which is the K Fair. The 2025 K Fair is scheduled to be held in Düsseldorf from October 8 to 15, with an expected participation of over 3,200 exhibitors showcasing various technologies in the fields of manufacturing, processing, and post-processing. The exhibitions planned for 2026 include: Plastindia in India, Plastics & Rubber Vietnam, Chinaplas in China, Plast Alger in Algeria, Colombiaplast in Colombia, Plastics & Rubber Thailand, and Central Asia Plast World in Kazakhstan. The Arabplast exhibition is scheduled to be held in 2027 in the United Arab Emirates. The latest member of the alliance is the "Saudi Plastics & Petrochem Exhibition," which will be held from April 12 to 15, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Print & Pack Exhibition will also be held concurrently.

The Critical Chemicals Alliance aims to address supply chain dependencies and market distortions. The EU chemical production faces challenges from cheaper competitors in the United States and China. The European Commission will expand national subsidies and simplify regulations for the chemical industry. Image source: Internet The EU's executive body stated that the European Commission will collaborate with member states and the chemical industry to support the production of chemicals deemed essential for the European industrial supply chain. The European Commission has announced that it will establish a Critical Chemical Alliance later this year, which will bring together the Commission, member states, and various stakeholders as part of a broader plan to revive the European chemical industry. The committee stated in a statement that the chemical alliance will "identify key production bases that require policy support and address trade issues such as supply chain dependencies and market distortions." This initiative draws on a previously established alliance that is responsible for identifying metals and minerals crucial to the energy transition. Subsequently, the EU set mining, processing, and recycling targets for 17 strategic materials. Chemicals are fundamental input materials for almost all industries (from textiles and defense to technology) and directly create 1.2 million jobs within the EU. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, chemical production significantly declined, and it has still not fully recovered in the face of competitors from the US and China that have significantly lower energy and production costs. Committee officials stated that over the past two years, more than 20 chemical production bases have closed, and petrochemical and ammonia products are "under tremendous pressure." "First, there is the issue of sovereignty: we must protect the steam cracking units," said European Commission Executive Vice President and Industry Commissioner Stephane Sejourne to reporters. The steam cracking unit is a unit in petrochemical plants used to produce basic chemicals such as ethylene and propylene, which are widely used in products like food plastic packaging, rubber, automotive headlights, and fleece hoodies. The European Union currently has about 40 steam cracking units. Chemical giant Dow (DOW.N) announced plans to close two factories in Germany and one in the UK over the next two years. Sai Ruone told reporters that the alliance will assess the EU's dependence on imports in key molecules. "For example, in the case of methanol, we rely 80% on foreign imports. If we look back at the key production bases, we must protect and maintain Europe's sovereignty... Relevant work will identify these critical molecules, and the plan also suggests promoting a mechanism similar to the 'Critical Molecules Act'." In addition, the committee will include chemicals in future trade agreements and strengthen monitoring of chemical imports. Since 2024, the committee has launched 18 trade remedy investigations targeting different molecules. To alleviate the impact of high energy prices, the committee will expand national subsidies, accelerate approval processes, and provide energy security through EU funds. Serone stated that the committee will also establish "EU content" standards for chemicals to be included in public procurement requirements, a measure that is being promoted across the entire EU industry. Finally, the committee will propose the sixth simplification plan for the chemical industry, known as the "omnibus amendment." This amendment is expected to be presented within the year and will simplify the labeling rules for hazardous chemicals and revise regulations related to cosmetics and fertilizers, anticipated to save the industry €363 million (approximately $425.47 million) annually.

Background Briefing Hexamethylenediamine, also known as hexamethylenediamine, is an important chemical intermediate. It is mainly used for the production of polyamide 66 (also known as nylon 66 or PA66), which is widely used in automotive, electrical and electronic, aerospace, machinery, chemical, and textile industries due to its excellent overall performance. In addition, hexamethylenediamine is also used to produce specialty polyamides (such as PA610, PA6T, etc.), polyurethane raw materials such as hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), epoxy resin curing agents, rubber vulcanization accelerators, and as stabilizers in the textile and paper industries, among other applications. Process technology route There are multiple routes for the global production of hexamethylenediamine, with the butadiene cyanohydrin method occupying a dominant position. 01 Self-dicarbonitrile hydrogenation method According to the different raw materials, the process of hydrogenating hexanedinitrile to produce hexanediamine can be divided into three methods: butadiene cyanohydrin method, propionitrile electrolytic dimerization method, and hexanedioic acid catalytic amination method. 02 Caprolactam Ammoniation Dehydration Method Using caprolactam as a raw material, aminocapronitrile is first produced through ammoniation and dehydration, and then hydrogenated to obtain hexamethylenediamine. Representative companies include Toray Industries from Japan, Yangnong Ruitai under Sinochem in China, and Pingmei Shenma. Toray Industries commissioned its hexamethylenediamine plant in 1965, but at that time, the price of caprolactam was high, making it economically unfeasible. In April 2024, Jiangsu Yangnong Chemical Group, Xiamen University, and Ningxia Ruitai Technology Co., Ltd. jointly completed the "Key Technology Development and Industrialization of High-Quality Hexamethylenediamine Production via Caprolactam Method," filling the technological gap in the production of hexamethylenediamine using the caprolactam method and breaking the international monopoly. Ningbo Galnew Material Technology Co., Ltd. has acquired Japanese process technology and patents, and after optimization and improvement, has formed independent intellectual property rights. Pingmei Shenma Group is collaborating with this company to construct the Aisuan project. In June 2025, the first phase of the project, with an annual capacity of 50,000 tons of aminocapronitrile, will be put into production, and there are plans to build a hexamethylenediamine project.   Global Hexamethylenediamine Industry Review In 2024, global hexamethylenediamine production capacity will exceed 2 million tons per year, with a high market concentration. The capacity is mainly concentrated in international chemical giants such as Ascend, Invista, and BASF, as well as advanced domestic enterprises like Chongqing Huafeng, Pingmei Shenma, and Tianchen Qixiang. The global production and consumption of hexamethylenediamine in 2024 is estimated to be around 1.55 million tons, with an actual operating rate of about 75%. Ascend is currently the largest producer of hexamethylenediamine in the world, with a total production capacity of 600,000 tons per year. Its production bases include the Pensacola plant in Florida and the Decatur plant in Alabama in the United States, as well as the Lianyungang plant in Jiangsu, China. However, due to multiple factors such as global trade frictions, industry cyclical fluctuations, and increasing market competition, Ascend is facing significant operational pressure. In April 2025, Ascend announced its entry into bankruptcy reorganization to reduce debt and optimize its capital structure; on June 17, the company announced the orderly shutdown of the Lianyungang plant in Jiangsu. Invista's global capacity for hexamethylenediamine exceeds 500,000 tons per year, with production bases located in the United States, Canada, and Shanghai, China. Notably, Invista originally planned to shut down the hexamethylenediamine and hexamethylendiamine units at its Orange facility in the U.S. starting in 2023. According to the initial plan, the hexamethylenediamine production unit at the Orange facility was to immediately initiate safety shutdown procedures, while the hexamethylenediamine production was scheduled to cease in mid-2024. However, in October 2024, Invista announced a partnership with Dow, deciding to continue long-term production of hexamethylenediamine at the Orange facility, given its demonstrated safety, reliability, and competitive operational capabilities when producing solely hexamethylenediamine. Additionally, in July 2024, Invista announced the restart of the hexamethylenediamine production line at its Maitland facility in Canada, which resumed production in the first quarter of 2025. BASF announced in June 2025 that its new hexanediamine plant in Chalampé, France, has been successfully put into operation, increasing its global hexanediamine production capacity to 260,000 tons per year. The implementation of this project not only consolidates BASF's competitive advantage in the upstream of the polyamide industry chain but also provides a stable raw material guarantee for the polyamide industry in Europe.   Review of China's Hexamethylenediamine Industry 1 Supply Analysis: In 2024, there are a total of 8 caprolactam production enterprises in China, with a combined production capacity of 1.37 million tons per year, and the industry's effective operating rate is approximately 55%. By the end of 2024, China's total production capacity of hexamethylenediamine will reach 1.371 million tons per year, with the new capacity mainly concentrated in the East China region. The domestic production of hexamethylenediamine in 2024 is expected to be approximately 463,000 tons, an increase of 18.4% year-on-year. From the perspective of competitive landscape, China's hexamethylenediamine production enterprises are mainly concentrated in the East China region, including Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Chongqing. The East China region accounts for 65% of the production capacity. The industry has a high concentration, with the top three enterprises (TOP3) collectively accounting for about 52% of the national total production capacity. Major production enterprises include Invista, Tianchen Qixiang, and Huafeng Group. From 2021 to 2024, domestic hexamethylenediamine production capacity is rapidly increasing, especially with significant capacity expansion in 2024. The main reasons driving the rapid expansion of China's hexamethylenediamine capacity include: (1) National policy support. The government has introduced a series of policies to support the upgrading of the chemical industry and the localization of key materials, encouraging enterprises to break through "bottleneck" technologies such as hexanediamine and hexanedinitrile. These policies create a favorable environment for capacity expansion and enhance the overall competitiveness of the polyamide industry. (2) Breakthrough in the domestication of upstream raw material adiponitrile. Hexamethylenediamine is produced by hydrogenating adiponitrile. In the past, the production technology of adiponitrile has long been monopolized by overseas companies, which restricted the development of the domestic hexamethylenediamine industry. Since 2022, domestic companies such as Huafeng Group and Tianchen Qixiang have made significant breakthroughs in adiponitrile production technology, achieving large-scale production and successfully resolving the supply bottleneck of upstream raw materials for hexamethylenediamine, laying a solid foundation for the capacity expansion of hexamethylenediamine. (3) Strong demand from downstream markets. The main downstream products of hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) are PA66 and HDI. Among them, the application demand for PA66 in the automotive, electronics, and engineering plastics sectors continues to grow; the consumption of HDI in high-performance coatings and adhesives markets is rapidly increasing. The robust demand in the downstream market directly drives the consumption growth of the raw material HMDA, further promoting capacity expansion. 2 Demand Analysis: With the rapid growth of PA66 and HDI consumption, the consumption of hexamethylenediamine is expected to increase by 15% year-on-year in 2024. In 2024, China's consumption of hexamethylenediamine reached 495,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 15.1%. Currently, PA66 is the largest consumption field for hexamethylenediamine in China. In 2024, domestic PA66 production capacity is 1.292 million tons/year, with a production volume of approximately 701,000 tons and a consumption volume of about 725,000 tons. In 2024, the domestic production of PA66 is expected to grow, primarily due to the continuous release of industry capacity, increased market supply, a favorable export market, and rapid growth in downstream demand. The downstream applications of PA66 are divided into three main categories: engineering plastics, industrial yarns, and civilian yarns. In 2024, the growth in PA66 demand will be mainly driven by the engineering plastics and industrial yarn sectors, with the automotive and electronics industries in the engineering plastics downstream and the tire industry in the industrial yarn downstream being the primary sources of PA66 demand growth. HDI is the second largest consumption field for China's hexamethylenediamine. As an aliphatic isocyanate without a benzene ring structure, HDI-based polyurethane coatings exhibit high resistance to yellowing and chalking, and can maintain the gloss of the paint surface for a long time. It is widely used in automotive, industrial protection, woodwork, and marine applications. The use of HDI aligns with the trend of upgrading polyurethane coatings towards high performance and environmental friendliness, leading to a continuous increase in consumption. In 2024, domestic HDI production capacity is expected to experience explosive growth. In addition to Covestro maintaining its existing capacity of 80,000 tons/year, Wanhua Chemical's Ningbo plant, Meirui New Materials, and Xinheng Cheng's HDI projects will all begin production, with total domestic HDI capacity reaching 330,000 tons/year by the end of 2024, an output of approximately 141,000 tons, and a consumption of about 130,000 tons. The application fields of hexamethylenediamine in China also include the production of special polyamides such as PA610 and PA6T, epoxy resin curing agents, a small amount used as rubber vulcanization accelerators, as well as stabilizers in the textile and paper industries. 3 Supply and demand forecasting: Caprolactam is still in a rapid development stage in China. Due to the accelerated localization of the raw material adiponitrile and the consumption drive from downstream PA66 and HDI, it is expected that the annual average growth rate of caprolactam consumption will remain at 10.1% by 2030. Currently, the domestic hexanediamine industry is still in a rapid development stage, and PA66 and HDI will continue to be the core driving forces for the growth in hexanediamine consumption. PA66 Market Outlook From 2024 to 2030, China's consumption of PA66 is expected to maintain a rapid growth trend, with an overall growth rate of about 8%. The growth in consumption is mainly driven by strong demand in the fields of engineering plastics and industrial yarns. At the same time, domestic PA66 production capacity will continue to expand, with an expected capacity of 2.8 million tons per year by 2030. With the increase in capacity, market supply capability will also be enhanced, and it is anticipated that from 2024 to 2030, the production growth rate will be approximately 11.5%, further driving the demand for hexamethylenediamine. HDI Market Outlook As a key raw material for high-performance polyurethane coatings, the demand for environmentally friendly high-performance coatings in industries such as automotive, construction, and woodworking will drive the continuous increase in HDI consumption in China. It is expected that from 2024 to 2030, domestic HDI consumption will grow rapidly at a compound annual growth rate of 8.3%. By 2030, with the gradual implementation of a series of new and expanded projects, domestic HDI production capacity is expected to reach 433,000 tons per year. At that time, market supply capacity will be significantly enhanced, and during the period from 2024 to 2030, production is expected to achieve an average annual growth rate of 8.3%, thereby increasing the demand for hexamethylenediamine. Market Outlook for Diethylamine Chinese enterprises are actively planning new construction and expansion projects for hexamethylenediamine, with a total of 1.752 million tons/year of new capacity planned domestically. Strong companies such as Xinhecheng, Zhejiang Petrochemical, Fujian Gulei, Liaoyang Petrochemical, and Hualu Hengsheng are all entering the market. Assuming all these projects are completed and put into production, combined with the exit of some existing domestic capacity, the total domestic capacity for hexamethylenediamine could reach 2.9 million tons/year. Although there is considerable uncertainty regarding the commissioning of some long-term projects, China's production capacity for hexamethylenediamine will still significantly exceed downstream consumption, leading to a more intense competitive landscape in the market.   China's Hexamethylenediamine Price Analysis In recent years, the price of hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) in China has shown a trend of rising first and then falling. In the first half of 2024, the price of HMDA rose, mainly due to the increase in crude oil prices, the continuous rise in the price of butadiene, a raw material for adiponitrile, which pushed up production costs; short-term supply tightness in the HMDA market; and strong demand from downstream PA66. By the second half of 2024, the price of HMDA fell back, reaching 21,000 yuan/ton by the end of the year. In the first half of 2025, the price of hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) is expected to show a divergent pattern of "international price increase and domestic price decrease" due to three factors: the localization of raw materials, tariff policies, and overcapacity. The hexamethylenediamine industry in China is characterized by a relatively concentrated market structure. If production enterprises cease operations due to equipment maintenance, natural disasters, safety accidents, or other factors, it will directly lead to a short-term supply gap, which will in turn drive the price of hexamethylenediamine to rise rapidly. For those production enterprises that rely on purchasing hexamethylenediamine, they may face the risk of supply disruption.   Thoughts on Ascend's Closure of Its Hexamethylenediamine Factory in China On June 17, 2025, global PA66 integrated producer Ascend Performance Materials announced the orderly closure of its hexamethylenediamine production facility located in Lianyungang, China. The plant has an annual capacity of 200,000 tons, and its closure will reduce the supply of hexamethylenediamine. In the short term, the supply tightness in the hexamethylenediamine market will intensify, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Companies relying on the supply from this plant will face raw material shortages and may need to import from other regions or seek alternative suppliers. Additionally, the reduction in supply and market panic may drive up hexamethylenediamine prices. For downstream companies, since hexamethylenediamine is a key raw material for producing PA66 and HDI, the closure of the plant will increase the difficulty and cost for PA66 and HDI producers to obtain hexamethylenediamine. Some companies dependent on the supply from Ascend's Lianyungang facility may reduce production or even halt operations due to insufficient raw materials. The capacity layout of the Ausun De Lianyungang factory was originally planned to be constructed in three phases. Phase one, with an annual output of 200,000 tons of hexamethylenediamine, also includes specialty amine chemicals such as FlexaTram™ used in coatings, pharmaceuticals, and the oil and gas industries, which began operations in October 2024. Phase two is for the polyamide business, and phase three is for the raw material acrylonitrile. However, Ausun De has announced the orderly shutdown of the factory, less than eight months since the factory officially began operation. Aosenda's main purpose for setting up factories in China is to be closer to the Asia-Pacific market, reduce transportation costs through localized production, and avoid trade barriers (such as US-China tariffs). However, with the domestic breakthroughs in the production of hexamethylenediamine, domestic capacity has seen explosive growth, and market competition has become increasingly fierce. Local companies, leveraging their understanding of domestic market demand and well-established upstream and downstream industrial chain layouts, have demonstrated competitive advantages in cost control, pricing strategies, and customer service, putting Aosenda at a competitive disadvantage. Closing factories is essentially a loss-cutting measure taken by Aosenda to avoid continuous losses in intense competition. From the perspective of strategic adjustment, Ausand's closure of the Lianyungang factory highlights its strategic intention to refocus its business on the United States. By integrating internal resources, Ausand can enhance operational efficiency, concentrating limited resources on core business areas and regions with competitive advantages. At the same time, it will pay more attention to the resilience and security of the supply chain, establishing a more complete and controllable production and supply system in core market areas. Additionally, ongoing trade frictions have profoundly impacted Ausand's global business layout—the changes in tariff policies have significantly increased the cost of exporting products from the U.S. to international markets, directly weakening the price competitiveness of its products in the international market and affecting sales. Therefore, in the near future, it is expected that Ausand will focus on serving the customer base in the domestic U.S. market. For Chinese hexamethylenediamine production enterprises, after Ascend closed its Lianyungang factory, its original market share has become vacant, providing domestic companies with an opportunity to quickly fill the gap. However, the current domestic hexamethylenediamine market has shown a situation of oversupply. If domestic manufacturers want to enhance their competitiveness and expand their market share, the key lies in optimizing production, reducing costs and increasing efficiency, and improving product performance.

On the fuselage of the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, over 50% of the structural components are no longer made from traditional metal materials but have been replaced by a "black technology" material—carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites. This material is not only lighter and stronger than metal but can also be reshaped repeatedly like plastic through heating and even recycled! Recently, the research results from Professor Li Guangji's team at Hangzhou Dianzi University have pushed the performance of this material to new heights. Today, we will uncover the magical qualities of this "future material"! Thermoplastics vs Thermosetting: A "Character Showdown" of Materials Composite materials are composed of reinforcing fibers (such as carbon fibers) and a resin matrix. Traditional thermosetting resins (such as epoxy resin) cannot be reversed once cured, just like a boiled egg cannot return to a liquid state. Although they have high hardness, they are brittle, have long processing cycles, and are not recyclable. In contrast, thermoplastic resins (such as PEEK, PPS) are like modeling clay; they soften when heated and harden when cooled, allowing for repeated processing. This "transformable" characteristic brings three major advantages: 1. High toughness: stronger resistance to impact and crack propagation. Efficient production: Molding only takes tens of minutes, which is several times faster than thermosetting processes. 3. Environmental economics: Waste materials can be recycled and reprocessed, reducing the high manufacturing costs in the aerospace field. "Patch up" composite materials: The magic of high toughness regions (HTRR) The fatal weakness of traditional carbon fiber composites is interlayer delamination—like the pages of a book being torn apart, the layers can easily separate due to stress concentration, as shown in the problem image in Figure 1. Figure 1. Failure Layer Analysis Li Guangji's team successfully solved this problem by innovating a process that implants "crack-resistant patches"—high toughness resin regions (HTRR) into the material, as shown in Figure 2. The implementation method is as follows: Mixing and weaving method: Carbon fiber is mixed with PPS fiber to form a special fabric structure; compression molding: Under high temperature and pressure, PPS melts and fills the gaps between the fibers, forming a tough "lock"; distribution optimization: By controlling the quantity, size, and distribution of HTRR, the crack propagation path is made to "get lost," redirecting it from interlayer to intralayer. Figure 2. Toughening methods for composites After applying the patches, the effects were enhanced, with the bending strength increasing by up to 75% and the tensile performance improving by 45%; delamination damage was reduced, and the damage mode changed from "single tearing" to "complex labyrinth-type failure." "Invisible Armor" of Aircraft Skin: Hat-shaped Stiffened Panel Structure In the wing and fuselage of the aircraft, the hat-shaped stiffened panel is a key load-bearing structure, as shown in Figure 3. In traditional processes, the connection point between the stiffener and the skin (R area) is prone to cracking due to stress concentration. The research team has significantly improved performance through two innovations: 1. Filling the R area: Filling the gap with prepreg strips to avoid stress concentration caused by wrinkles; 2. HTRR enhancement: Adding PEEK film at the R area and connection points to bond the interface like "glue." Figure 3. Hat-shaped reinforced wall panel The optimized effect is significant; the samples without filled R zones fractured directly, while the optimized structure could bear loads in stages, with ductility increased by 118%. The failure mode changed from "brittle delamination" to "ductile interlayer," as if the aircraft were wearing an "invisible armor" that could self-repair. Perhaps in the near future, the airplanes we fly in, the cars we drive, and even the smartphones in our hands will all use this "recyclable armor." All of this comes from the relentless exploration of the microscopic world of materials by scientists.

On July 17, 2025, polyester fiber industry giant Xinfengming (603225) announced that the company intends to increase its investment in Hefei Lif Biotechnology Co., Ltd. by 100 million yuan, after which it will hold a 7.0175% stake in the company. This capital marriage is not only a key layout for Xinfengming's strategy of "greening, differentiation, and innovation," but also marks a new stage in the industrialization process of bio-based polyester materials in China. Relying on Livan Bio's technological accumulation in the field of FDCA (2,5-furandicarboxylic acid), the two sides have previously achieved large-scale production of 100% bio-based polyester PEF filaments, providing a feasible technological path for the green transformation of the textile industry. 1. The logic behind investment: breaking through homogeneous competition. The recent investment by Xin Fengming is not a coincidence. As a global leader in polyester fiber with a total market value of 17 billion yuan, its traditional main business is facing increasing pressure from intensified homogenization competition. Biobased materials are seen as an important direction to break through this "involution." The announcement clearly states that the core goal of the investment is to explore the application of PEF in high-end biobased fibers and green packaging through Livi's FDCA technology, which aligns closely with Xin Fengming's strategy of "consolidating traditional businesses + laying out emerging industries." The core value of Lifeng Biotechnology lies in its technological barriers related to furan-based biobased materials. Since its establishment in 2014, the company has focused on the research and development of FDCA and its downstream product PEF. It has built the world's first kiloton-level FDCA production line and a hundred-ton level continuous production line, with a ten-thousand-ton production line under construction expected to be operational by the end of 2025, which will make it the largest FDCA supplier in the world. More importantly, its technological pathway has broken through industry bottlenecks—by using the "glucose-HMF-FDCA" process, it has eliminated dependence on expensive raw materials, and the product purity reaches 99.99%, with polymerization performance leading the industry. This technological advantage is directly reflected in the valuation logic: Liv Bio's post-investment valuation after the B1 round in 2023 was 768 million yuan, the pre-investment valuation reached 1.2 billion yuan, and the post-investment valuation has now exceeded 1.5 billion yuan. The announcement explains that the increase in valuation is supported by four core factors: the maturity of the continuous process using glucose as raw material, the globally leading quality of FDCA, the delivery capability advantage brought by the ton-level production line, and a clear cost reduction path—FDCA prices are expected to drop to 50,000-60,000 yuan/ton by 2025, and further down to 20,000-30,000 yuan/ton after 2027, gradually approaching the cost of petroleum-based raw materials. 2. Technical breakthroughs + capital support, PEF is about to be industrialized. Biobased polyester PEF is regarded by the industry as the best alternative to petroleum-based PET. Its chemical structural similarity to PET means it is compatible with existing production equipment, while its performance advantages are more significant: in addition to the low carbon attributes brought by being fully biobased, PEF fibers exhibit outstanding performance in moisture absorption and quick drying (with moisture absorption rates over twice that of PET) and natural antibacterial properties (with an antibacterial rate exceeding 99%). This makes it highly applicable in fields such as activewear and medical textiles. Image source: Livzon Biotech The breakthrough in large-scale mass production is the result of the combination of Xin Fengming's industrial capabilities and Lifu Biotechnology. Lif Biotech provides core raw material assurance: its FDCA products have a purity of 99.99%, exhibiting more stable reactivity during the polymerization process, laying the foundation for the physical properties of PEF filaments. Xin Fengming contributed mass production experience: As a polyester production expert, it solved process challenges such as melt fluidity and stretching and shaping in the PEF spinning process, transforming laboratory technology into industrial production capacity. According to OECD forecasts, by 2030, biobased products will replace 25% of the organic chemicals market. As a biobased material closest to PET, PEF is expected to rapidly penetrate fields such as textiles and packaging. Through this investment, Xin Fengming secures FDCA supply, effectively obtaining a "ticket" to the industrialization of biobased materials in advance. Opportunities and challenges coexist, and Livzon Bio is continuously in the red. Despite the promising prospects, this cooperation still faces numerous challenges. The announcement clearly outlines three major risks: 1. Market uncertainty: The acceptance and price sensitivity of bio-based materials still need to be tested by the market; 2. Production line commissioning risk: If Liv Bio's 10,000-ton FDCA production line cannot be put into operation on schedule, it will affect the scale-up process of PEF; 3. Profitability cycle issue: Liv Bio has been continuously losing money since its establishment (net profit of -55.3137 million yuan in 2024 and net profit of -13.3683 million yuan from January to March 2025), making it difficult to contribute profits to New Feng Ming in the short term. However, as technology continues to mature, these risks are gradually being mitigated. LivBio's losses are mainly due to early-stage R&D investments, but with the production of the ten-thousand-ton line and cost reductions, profit expectations are clear; New Fengming also controls risks through a "stakeholding rather than controlling" approach, while retaining flexibility for technological collaboration. More importantly, both parties have formed a closed loop of "technology R&D - raw material supply - mass production": LivBio is responsible for reducing FDCA costs, while New Fengming is responsible for expanding PEF application scenarios. This division of labor model provides sustainable driving force for industrialization. 4. FDCA industry financing heats up, capital races in the biobased track. FDCA, as a core raw material for bio-based polyesters, has become a hot track for capital competition. From the perspective of industry financing, multiple companies have received capital injection at different stages: Lif Biological has recently received 100 million yuan in a C-round financing from New Fengming; Tangneng Technology is expected to complete a B+ round financing in 2024, although the amount is unknown, it has support from Zhoushan Financial Capital and Daishan Investment Group; Zhongke Guosheng secured 200 million yuan in an A+ round financing in March 2025, with participation from CITIC Jinshi and PwC Capital; Yunshang New Materials, Saierke, and Yujun Bio have also respectively gained capital favor at the angel+ and B round stages. Behind the capital-intensive layout is a long-term optimism for bio-based materials to replace petroleum-based materials. Different rounds of financing reflect the development stages of enterprises: angel rounds focus on technology validation, A/B rounds promote capacity landing, and C rounds accelerate industrialization expansion. Xin Fengming's investment in Lifu Bio is not only an extension of its own strategy but also aligns with the rising trend of financing in the FDCA industry. By leveraging capital, it aims to deepen its bio-based polyester layout and work together with other companies in the industry to advance the FDCA-PEF industrial chain from technology development to large-scale application, seizing opportunities in the green materials revolution. With the production line of Livzon Bio's 10,000-ton FDCA coming online and the expansion of PEF application scenarios, this investment, which began with technological cooperation, is expected to reshape the global polyester material competition landscape. As stated in the announcement, this is not only a choice for enterprises to seek new momentum but also a practice to "contribute new quality power for the green development of the global textile fiber industry."

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

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

The space for differentiation in the main materials of outdoor footwear and clothing with the same positioning is becoming increasingly small. Decorative elements can become one of the carriers of differentiation. Silk screen printing Source: naturalcosmeticlabs Suitable for LOGO. Uses water-based or Plastisol ink; single or multiple color printing, followed by heat transfer for color fixing. The Nike ACG Walk Tree T-Shirt features a large natural theme print on the front, with a soft and breathable feel, making it suitable for urban outdoor mixing and matching. Source: static.nike Polyester/nylon embroidery thread, high stitch count flat embroidery or layered three-dimensional embroidery; or back hot melt film shaping. Commonly used for logos. The classic hard-shell "Arc'teryx Beta AR" front "Arcteryx" embroidery is wear-resistant and does not affect the fabric's waterproof and breathable threshold. Heat transfer label PU/TPU hot melt film, after digital printing or silk screen printing, is heat pressed at high temperatures; suitable for lightweight elastic fabrics. The Moncler reflective heat transfer badge series (such as Waffle Knit sweaters) is widely used in the urban outdoor line and maintains flexibility at low temperatures. Silicone / PVC 3D label Liquid silicone is high-temperature vulcanized or poured into PVC, allowing for a 0.8-2 mm three-dimensional layer; the back is equipped with hot melt adhesive/sewing line groove. The Columbia × Star Wars “Skywalker Pilot” ski jacket features raised silicone communication badges and branding, enhancing the sci-fi attributes while being resistant to low-temperature bending. Woven label / Flag label High-density jacquard or woven; ultrasonic cutting or ultrasonic folding at the edges, Patagonia "Ironclad Guarantee" woven label, highlighting the brand's sustainability and lifelong repair philosophy. Reflective strip / Reflective print 3M™ Scotchlite™ micro glass beads or carbon black elastic film; thermal adhesive or high-frequency pressing. Source: 3M LED/Optical Fiber Light Emitting Component Flexible PCB + LED series, optical fiber, or phosphorescent film; requires a small power module. Vollebak Solar Charged Jacket: The outer layer has a phosphorescent film that glows green in the dark for 20-30 minutes after being exposed to light, which can also serve as a positioning signal. Levi’s® Commuter Trucker × Google Jacquard: Sleeve LED dot matrix alerts for calls/navigation, and integrates capacitive touch fabric. Customized zipper head Injection molding TPU / aluminum alloy micro sandblasting; laser engraving logo. The Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody features a lightweight TPU zipper head that maintains its toughness in low temperatures. Color-blocking splicing / Bright seam stitching Three stitches and five lines or overlock; accessory fabric color blocks. Arc'teryx X Jil Sander jacket features a large black-and-white color block design, enhancing the high street visual. Shoe lace hole / Shoe lace buckle decoration Injection molded TPU film; integrated Quick-lace. The Salomon XT-6 series features a TPU "Skin Guard" spider web overlay and quick lacing holes, balancing protection and recognition. 3D patches (shoulder, elbow, knee) Double-layer CORDURA®, with targeted bartack stitching. Commonly used in ski and ice climbing clothing, enhancing abrasion resistance and creating an outdoor functional visual language. Replaceable Velcro badge Nylon hook and loop + fabric label / PVC badge; embroidery or silicone process. Source: nivisgear Nivis Gear Protego Ski Jacket has sleeves with embedded Velcro, allowing for the exchange of national flags or team badges. Hook and loop / Climbing buckle 6 series aluminum alloy or injection molded POM; webbing loop. Commonly found on backpack shoulder straps and D-Rings on the chest of jackets, used for hanging water bottles, gloves, lights, etc. Source: popularairsoft Outdoor footwear and clothing accessories can be combined with environmental scenarios (night running / snow mountains / urban commuting) and brand tone (minimalist functionality / outdoor fashion) to undertake a multi-dimensional role of "function + experience + brand story." Interested product developers can flexibly mix and match the above materials and craftsmanship to achieve a differentiated appearance while ensuring durability and safety.

In the field of aerospace manufacturing, every breakthrough in materials technology can lead to profound changes in industry regulations. In recent years, thermoplastic composites, with their lightweight, high strength, and environmentally friendly characteristics, are gradually rewriting the traditional rules of aerospace manufacturing and becoming a key force in driving the aviation industry towards greater efficiency and sustainability. Lightweighting: Breaking Through the Bottleneck of Fuel Efficiency The weight of an aircraft's fuselage is a core factor affecting fuel efficiency. Traditional metal materials can meet strength requirements but are relatively heavy, limiting improvements in fuel economy. Thermoplastic composites achieve lightweight advantages with a density only 1/5 to 1/4 that of steel by combining reinforcing materials such as carbon fiber and glass fiber with thermoplastic resins. For example, carbon fiber reinforced PEEK material has a density of only 1.4g/cm³, yet can reach a tensile strength of 500MPa. This material characteristic allows airplanes to reduce structural weight under the same load, directly lowering fuel consumption. Data shows that for every ton of fuselage weight reduced, an aircraft can save hundreds of tons of fuel annually, consequently reducing carbon emissions. This weight reduction effect not only enhances range but also saves operating costs for airlines, making it a key breakthrough for the aviation industry in pursuing green development. High Intensity: The Possibility of Restructuring Design The mechanical properties of thermoplastic composites have the limitations of traditional materials. Their toughness comes from the fiber toughening mechanism, which can absorb impact energy, making them suitable for safety protection components. In the aerospace field, such materials have been applied to critical structural components such as leading edges of wings and sheer beams. For example, a certain type of aircraft uses thermoplastic composites to manufacture the leading edge of the wing, and the connection between the skin and the ribs is achieved through thermoplastic welding technology, which ensures structural strength while simplifying the manufacturing process. Compared with traditional riveting processes, welding technology reduces the number of fasteners, lowers structural weight, and simultaneously enhances fatigue life and damage tolerance. This design flexibility allows aircraft designers to optimize the shapes of wings and fuselage, reduce aerodynamic drag, and further improve flight efficiency. Environmental Protection: Constructing a Closed Loop of Circular Economy The environmental pressure on the aviation industry is increasing, and the recyclability of materials has become an important consideration. Traditional thermosetting composites are difficult to decompose after curing, leading to high disposal costs. In contrast, thermoplastic composites can be melted and reshaped at high temperatures, allowing discarded components to be reprocessed through heating and melting, thus achieving a closed-loop material cycle. For example, a research institution has developed a recycling process for thermoplastic composites that can produce new parts with performance close to that of virgin materials through steps like crushing and reprocessing. This recycling method not only reduces waste emissions but also lowers raw material costs. In addition, the production of thermoplastic composites does not require special storage conditions, avoiding the energy consumption associated with frozen storage and cleanroom maintenance, further enhancing their environmental advantages. Manufacturing efficiency: The engine for accelerating industrial upgrading The processing characteristics of thermoplastic composites significantly enhance manufacturing efficiency. Their molding process is a physical change, requiring no curing period, and the injection molding cycle can be shortened to 1-2 minutes, making it suitable for mass production. For example, a certain type of aircraft floor panel is integrated into a single product through the injection molding process, consolidating multiple components and reducing assembly steps. In addition, thermoplastic composites can be integrated with robots and visual inspection systems to achieve fully automated production. This automated production model not only improves production efficiency but also reduces labor costs, with the yield rate exceeding 99%. As technology matures, the manufacturing costs of thermoplastic composites will further decrease, promoting their widespread application in the aerospace field. Future Outlook: Opening a New Era in Aviation Manufacturing The application prospects of thermoplastic composite materials go far beyond this. With the development of 3D printing technology, their customized production capabilities will be further unleashed to meet the aviation industry's demand for complex structural components. For example, a research institution has successfully printed a thermoplastic composite fuselage demonstration part that is 8 meters long and 4 meters in diameter, achieving approximately a 10% reduction in structural weight and cost. Additionally, the weldability of thermoplastic composite materials provides the possibility for the integrated design of aircraft structures, potentially enabling the manufacture of rivet-free fuselages in the future. This technological breakthrough will fundamentally change the manufacturing processes in aviation, pushing the industry towards a more efficient and environmentally friendly direction. Thermoplastic composites are rewriting the rules of aerospace manufacturing with their unique advantages. From lightweight and high strength to environmental friendliness and manufacturing efficiency, these materials bring unprecedented opportunities to the aviation industry. With continuous technological advancements, thermoplastic composites are expected to achieve breakthroughs in more fields, ushering in a new era of aerospace manufacturing.

On July 15 local time, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its final affirmative ruling on the anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigation into Chinese hexamine. Maximum 825.92% exorbitant tariff The final ruling sets the anti-dumping duty rate for Chinese producers/exporters at 405.19% (with the margin adjusted to 394.65% after offsetting subsidies), and this rate is a uniform national rate for China. The subsidy tax rate for Chinese producers/exporters is 420.73%, which is also the national uniform rate in China. The combined rate of the anti-dumping tax and the subsidy tax rate reaches as high as 825.92%. According to the relevant legal procedures announced by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will make a final ruling on anti-dumping industry damage on August 28, 2025. In addition, on July 14, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced a preliminary anti-dumping ruling on erythritol imported from China, with a preliminary determination that the dumping margin for Chinese producers/exporters is 371.62% (the adjusted margin after offsetting subsidies is 371.53%), and the national unified tax rate for China is 450.64% (the adjusted margin after offsetting subsidies is 450.64%). Trump: Continue sending tariff letters On July 15, U.S. President Trump stated that he plans to impose tariffs of more than 10% on smaller countries, including those in Africa and the Caribbean. On that day, Trump gave an interview to the media at Andrews Air Force Base, saying, "For this segment of the population, every country will be the same." These countries "are not major powers and have a small trade volume with us." He indicated that he might impose tariffs "slightly above 10%" on goods from at least 100 countries. On the same day, U.S. President Trump announced on social media that the United States would impose a 19% tariff on all imports from Indonesia, while exports from the U.S. to Indonesia would enjoy tariff-free and non-tariff barrier treatment. According to reports, Trump stated that after talks with Indonesian President Prabowo, both sides reached an important agreement. Under this "milestone agreement," Indonesia "opens its entire market to the United States for the first time." Trump recently sent letters to the leaders of more than 20 trading partners, stating that starting from August 1, he will impose tariffs ranging from 20% to 50% on these trading partners. Tariff revenue exceeds 100 billion USD. On July 11, according to data from the U.S. Treasury, the government recorded a fiscal surplus of over $27 billion in June, in sharp contrast to the $316 billion deficit in May. This is the first fiscal surplus for the U.S. government in June since 2017. Nevertheless, the cumulative deficit for the fiscal year so far still stands at $1.34 trillion. This transformation is mainly due to the sharp increase in fiscal revenue, especially from tariff income. In June, the total customs tariff reached approximately 27 billion USD, an increase of 17% compared to 23 billion USD in May, and a staggering 301% increase compared to the same period last year. So far this fiscal year, tariff revenue has reached 113 billion USD, an 86% increase compared to the same period last year, setting a record high for a single fiscal year. During a cabinet meeting earlier this week, Treasury Secretary Becerra stated that tariff revenue in the United States is expected to reach $300 billion in the calendar year 2025. This forecast is based on the strong performance of tariff revenue so far this year and the ongoing trade protection policies implemented by the Trump administration.

A shirt made of polyester fabric actually comes from recycled mineral water bottles. The garment features a rich variety of patterns and is comfortable to wear. This eco-friendly garment manufacturing technology has been widely adopted by Lutai Textile. "Well-known international brands like Burberry and Armani have established strategic partnerships with us. Burberry sources 90% of its shirt fabrics and trench coat linings from us. The market share of mid to high-end colored woven fabrics in export markets accounts for over 18% of the global market." Recently, the "Strengthening the Supply Chain to Benefit Enterprises · Quality Enjoyment in Shandong" media group visited the company’s processing plant to gain insights into the green technology products launched by Lutai Textile, such as recycled polyester and recycled cotton. This series of products achieves resource recycling and biodegradability, effectively protecting the environment while realizing zero waste and low carbon emissions, successfully addressing the environmental challenges faced by the textile industry and reducing energy consumption. Walk into the production workshop. In the factory area, the interview team observed that in the clean and bright workshop, dozens of small weaving machines were operating in an orderly manner. Each machine was equipped with a computer on its right side, displaying pattern designs and other data, while on the left side, automated "hands" were gradually forming different fabric samples with "every stitch and every thread." The entire cycle, including color yarn formulation, weaving process, and finishing inspection, could be completed in an average of five days. Lutai Group's current main products are closely aligned with the industrial positioning of "technology, fashion, and green." They have launched new products such as BlueECO-Mist, comfortable wrinkle-free, and Printedyarn. According to reports, the BlueECO-Mist series uses a salt-free and alkali-free environmentally friendly dyeing process, resulting in less pollution discharge, and the fabric mimics the effects of denim and dyed cotton yarn; the comfortable wrinkle-free series imparts a softer feel to the fabric, offering higher wearing comfort; the Printedyarn series utilizes various cellulose fibers, such as hemp, Tencel, and modal, and can process various high, medium, and low count yarns, especially excelling in high count yarns. The entire production process is green and environmentally friendly, reducing water and chemical additives usage, achieving salt-free dyeing. "In the process of setting carbon reduction targets in the textile industry, we have incorporated the added value of products into our considerations. At the same time, we strengthen the high-value utilization of old textiles, establish a comprehensive recycling, processing, and certification system for regenerated materials, and enhance standardized management within the industry to reduce environmental pollution," said Li Wenji, Deputy General Manager of Lutai Textile Co., Ltd. The company has received positive market feedback for its innovative research and development of self-cleaning fabrics, polar white fabrics, and cross-border knitting. In recent years, Lutai Textile has focused on tackling HCP green non-iron technology to create more wrinkle-resistant high-end fabrics. Additionally, leveraging the advantages of technological innovation across the entire industry chain, we have developed regenerated cotton, achieving zero waste and low carbon, effectively addressing the environmental challenges in the textile industry and saving energy and reducing consumption. Recycling Technology Series Taking recycled polyester as an example, its raw materials come from recycled mineral water bottles. The company compresses the sorted mineral water bottles into bricks, which are then transported to the rough processing workshop. In the rough processing enterprise, the bottles undergo cleaning, crushing, separation, and drying steps, transforming into white flakes. Next, the workshop workers treat the flakes through a series of techniques to produce yarn, which is then woven to create recycled fabric. Nowadays, the series of products using recycling technology have obtained GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification. The production process is environmentally friendly and can effectively protect soil and marine environments, saving nearly 80% of energy compared to conventional polyester production. Recycled cotton products utilize fabric scraps from recycling companies, achieving resource recycling and biodegradability, effectively protecting the environment. The four-way stretch knitted series features richer patterns and textures, combining comfort with a sense of fashion. "According to estimates, every ton of recycled cotton can save 1,600 tons of water, 1,800 kilowatt-hours of electricity, reduce arable land by about 10 acres, and decrease the use of fertilizers and pesticides by approximately 32 tons," Li Wenji introduced. Thanks to breakthroughs in recycling technology, Lutai Textile's production and operational performance has consistently ranked among the top in the national textile industry. The company has been the top in China’s main business revenue for color woven fabrics for seventeen consecutive years, and it holds the largest market share in the mid-to-high-end color woven fabric market globally. Lutai has been recognized as a high-tech enterprise, a national industrial design center, a national enterprise technology center, and a CNAS national recognized laboratory, and is a "demonstration enterprise for champions in single-item manufacturing."

Recently, the Jinan Ecological Environment Bureau announced the acceptance of the environmental impact report for the project of Shandong Feiste Biological Technology Co., Ltd. to produce 100,000 tons of superabsorbent resin and water-blocking agents annually. Superabsorbent polymers, as a key basic chemical material, are mainly used in the hygiene sector, special chemical additives, and related emerging applications, having a solid application foundation and continuous growth momentum in both global and Chinese markets. Currently, the core contradiction in the market lies in the coexistence of huge basic production capacity and insufficient supply of mid-to-high-end products. Under the strong drive of national green transformation policies and the explosive demand from strategic emerging industries such as new energy, the focus on the research and production projects of high-performance, specialized, and environmentally friendly superabsorbent polymers is ushering in an unprecedented strategic opportunity period. The project aims to seize three core opportunities: import substitution, industrial upgrading, and emerging demand, through technological innovation and precise positioning, to carve out a high-growth, high-value blue ocean in a fiercely competitive market, achieving economic and social value. Therefore, in order to seize market opportunities and further expand the market, the construction unit plans to invest 130 million yuan to build a project with an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons of superabsorbent resin and water-blocking agents. After the project is completed, it is expected to produce 100,000 tons of superabsorbent resin and water-blocking agents annually. Project Overview Project Name: Shandong Feiste Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Annual Production of 100,000 Tons of Superabsorbent Resin and Water-Blocking Agent Project Construction Unit: Shandong Feiste Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Construction nature: new construction Construction location: Chemical Additive Industrial Park, Kouzhen Street, Laiwu District, Jinan City, Shandong Province Construction scale: annual production of 100,000 tons of superabsorbent resin and water-blocking agent Project construction content: The total area of the project plant covers 96 acres, of which this project occupies about 30.2 acres (about 20,133 square meters). This project will build a production workshop for highly absorbent resin and water-blocking agent, a heat-conducting oil furnace room, a transformer substation, and two independent storage tank areas. Five production lines of corresponding equipment for highly absorbent resin will be purchased to achieve an annual output of 100,000 tons of highly absorbent resin and water-blocking agent products. Project Investment: This project plans to invest 130 million yuan, of which approximately 2 million yuan is for environmental protection. Company Profile Shandong Fist Biological Technology Co., Ltd. is located in the Chemical Additives Industrial Park of Koutown Street, Laiwu District, Jinan City, Shandong Province, west of Laicheng Avenue, south of Huitong West Road, and north of Gude West Road, covering an area of 64,153 m². The company was established on April 1, 2024, with a registered capital of 15 million yuan. The main business scope of the company includes: research and development of bio-chemical products technology; manufacturing of synthetic materials (excluding hazardous chemicals); sales of synthetic materials; technical services, technical development, technical consulting, technical exchange, technical transfer, and technical promotion. (Except for projects that are legally required to be approved, the company operates independently according to its business license.)

Recently, Eastman launched the latest innovative product in its sustainable fiber portfolio: Naia Renew, used for filling applications, has not only achieved proven success in the field of bedding and towels but is now transforming bedding and towels with its breathable comfort, luxurious softness, and unparalleled ease of care. This represents a significant development in the application of Naia in home textiles, meeting the growing demand for high-performance and more responsible solutions. Naia Renew fiber is made using Eastman's molecular recycling technology and is produced through GRS-certified mass balance, containing 60% sustainably sourced wood pulp and 40% recycled waste. This innovative process reduces waste and carbon footprint while supporting the circular economy. Naia Renew has already gained recognition for its role in the high-end bedding and towel sectors, and it has now expanded into the filling applications field, setting new standards in comfort, performance, and sustainability. When it comes to performance, Naia Renew offers a unique combination of breathability and moisture management, creating a dry and relaxing sleep environment. As the human body produces moisture throughout the night, effectively managing trapped sweat is crucial for maintaining a peaceful microclimate. Naia achieves this by addressing every stage of moisture control: absorption, transmission, and evaporation. High-performance fibers effectively wick away and disperse moisture, while Naia's quick-drying properties create a continuously dry environment, preventing discomfort and supporting uninterrupted rest. This innovative insulating material features a unique Y-shaped fiber cross-section design, providing a fluffy, soft feel and better warmth retention, inheriting Naia fibers' moisture management and breathability. The fibers effectively absorb moisture without becoming saturated, ensuring lightweight comfort. This enables them to respond to all temperature and humidity changes that occur during the night, perfectly adapting to the body's and rest's needs. Naia Renew enhances the breathability of quilts, improving airflow and humidity management, outperforming traditional single-fiber fillings in vapor resistance and transmission tests. This fiber also delivers an ultimate softness, with a silky lightweight feel that brings unparalleled luxury, gently enveloping the body for exceptional comfort. Naia fibers are hypoallergenic and resistant to bacterial growth, reducing odors and keeping things fresh, ensuring the quilt remains clean and inviting. Additionally, Naia Renew fibers are machine washable and pest-resistant, providing a practical and durable solution for busy modern lifestyles. These features make Naia Renew a game-changer in home textile design, offering "all-night comfort" for bedding and quilt fillings, ensuring more lasting relaxation. About Eastman Eastman was founded in 1920 and is a global specialty materials company that produces a variety of products used in everyday life. Aimed at enhancing the quality of life through material means, Eastman collaborates with customers to provide innovative products and solutions while adhering to commitments to safety and sustainability. The company's innovation-driven growth model leverages world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to maintain leadership in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumer goods. As a globally inclusive and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,000 people worldwide and serves customers in over 100 countries. The company reported revenues of about $9.2 billion in 2023 and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA.