LYB Achieves Net Profit of $115 Million; Stora Enso Builds Europe's Largest Packaging Line; Porsche Plans Plant Shutdown

International News Guide:

Major Enterprise News: LYB releases Q2 2025 financial report, achieving a net profit of $115 million;

Medical News: Bioinspired Polymer Interfaces for Skin-Integrated Devices: Rethinking Comfort, Adhesion, and Biocompatibility ;

Automotive News: Porsche to largely shut down its battery subsidiary;

Packaging News:

Stora Enso’s €1bn Investment Transforms European Packaging Landscape ;

Macroeconomic News: India decides to continue purchasing Russian oil;

Price Information: Central parity rate of RMB against USD reported at 7.1287, up 97 pips.

Details of International News:

LYB Releases Q2 2025 Financial Report, Achieving Net Profit of $115 Million

LYB (LyondellBasell) released its Q2 2025 financial report, posting a net profit of $115 million in the second quarter, or diluted earnings per share of $0.34. During the quarter, the company recognized $87 million in after-tax confirmed items, which had a $0.28 impact on earnings per share for the second quarter, involving asset impairments, transaction costs, cash improvement plans, and discontinued operations. The EBITDA for Q2 2025 was $606 million, and $715 million excluding confirmed items.

Bioinspired Polymer Interfaces for Skin-Integrated Devices: Rethinking Comfort, Adhesion, and Biocompatibility

Several types of polymers are now used to meet the needs of skin-integrated devices. Silicone elastomers such as PDMS and Ecoflex are quite widely used for their stretchability and skin safety. Polyurethane adhesives are commonly used in ECG and EMG patches because of their pressure-sensitive properties and thermal responsiveness. Hydrogels like PAA, PVA, and PHEMA support ionic conductivity and moisture management, making them useful in biosensors and sweat monitors. Biopolymer blends such as chitosan and gelatin are appearing in dissolvable or biodegradable formats for eco-friendly medical patches. These materials are often combined in layered structures where mechanical, chemical, and biological properties must all be optimised together.

Porsche to Largely Shut Down Its Battery Subsidiary

Against the backdrop of weak demand for electric vehicles, German sports car manufacturer Porsche plans to significantly shut down its battery subsidiary, Cellforce.

According to reports, nearly 200 out of a total of approximately 280 positions are to be cut. Relevant departments have submitted a notice of the layoff wave to the competent employment agency in Reutlingen, the report said. Porsche launched the Cellforce project to the public four years ago; less than three years ago, it started the construction of a research and development base in the Machden industrial area near Kirchheim unter Teck, which includes pilot production of battery cells for small batches (up to 1,000 vehicles per year).

Stora Enso’s €1bn Investment Transforms European Packaging Landscape

On August 18, Oulu, Finland, opened the biggest and most advanced consumer packaging board production line in Europe.The new line was introduced by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Kari Jordan, the chair of the board of directors of Stora Enso, Hans Sohlström, the president and chief executive officer of Stora Enso, and Olli-Pekka Kaikkonen, the chief shop steward of the Oulu mill.

Producer Registration Opens For California’s Packaging EPR Program

Circular Action Alliance (CAA), the producer responsibility organization (PRO) implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) for paper and packaging in California, has opened an updated registration portal for all producers obligated under California’s packaging EPR law, Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, or Senate Bill 54.

Pactiv Slashes 127 Jobs in California Plant Shutdown

Pactiv LLC is closing its thermoforming plant in Bakersfield, CA, resulting in 127 job losses, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice filed with the state. The closure is scheduled for Oct. 14, 2025, as detailed in the notification submitted late last week.

Korozo's Sustainable Flexible Packaging Solutions For Fresh And Frozen Foods At Fachpack 2025

International flexible packaging manufacturer Korozo Group (Korozo) is participating at FachPack 2025, where it is showcasing sustainable flexible packaging solutions that meet the needs of today and tomorrow.

Overseas Macroeconomic Market:

India Decides to Continue Purchasing Russian Oil

According to a report on the website of Russia's Izvestia on August 21, India has made a final decision on Russian energy issues. Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar stated that New Delhi will continue to purchase Russian oil despite pressure from the United States. On August 21, the foreign ministers of Russia and India will discuss strengthening the strategic partnership in Moscow. Kumar said India will not consider imposing an embargo on Russian oil.

Institution: U.S. Smartphone Sales Grew 9% YoY in Q2

According to Counterpoint's U.S. Channel Share Tracking Report, the U.S. smartphone market grew 9% year-on-year (YoY) in Q2 2025, mainly driven by the strong performance of the three major carriers. Benefiting from summer promotion activities, smartphone sales at AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon stores increased by 16%, 20%, and 12% YoY respectively. The upgrade rates of all major carriers increased, and executives generally attributed this to aggressive promotion activities. Driven by these strong promotions, sales of high-end devices increased by 11% YoY.

Japan’s Stock Market Sees Largest Foreign Capital Inflow in Nearly Four Months

In the week ending August 16, Japan’s stock market attracted the largest foreign capital inflow in nearly four months, which drove the market to a record rally. The reason is that the market expects the United States to cut interest rates, while strong domestic economic growth data also boosted market sentiment. Data released by Japan’s Ministry of Finance on Thursday showed that foreign investors bought Japanese stocks worth approximately 1.16 trillion yen (about $7.87 billion) last week, the largest single-week purchase since April 5.

Japan's 10-Year Government Bond Yield Rises to Highest Level Since 2008

Amid rising expectations of a Bank of Japan interest rate hike and lingering fiscal concerns, Japan's 10-year government bond yield climbed to its highest level since 2008. The 10-year government bond yield rose to 1.61%.

Price Information:

Central Parity Rate of RMB Against USD

The central parity rate of RMB against USD was reported at 7.1287, up 97 pips; the central parity rate of the previous trading day was 7.1384, the official closing price of the previous trading day was 7.1793, and the night session closing price of the previous day was 7.1770.

US Dollar Market Prices of Upstream Raw Materials

Ethylene (Asia): CFR Northeast Asia $830/ton, up $5/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $820/ton.

Propylene (Northeast Asia): FOB South Korea average $750/ton, up $5/ton; CFR China average $780/ton, up $5/ton.

North Asia Frozen Cargo CIF Price: Propane $528-$529/ton; Butane $528-$529/ton.

South China Frozen Cargo CIF Price for September Delivery: Propane $559-$569/ton; Butane $539-$549/ton.

Taiwan Region Frozen Cargo CIF Price: Propane $528-$529/ton; Butane $528-$529/ton.

US Dollar Market Prices of LLDPE

Film Grade: $870-$910/ton (CFR Huangpu), up $5/ton;

Injection Molding Grade: $950/ton (CFR Dongguan);

US Dollar Market Prices of HDPE

Film Grade: $905-$970/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Blow Molding Grade: $855/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Injection Molding Grade: $870/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipe Grade: $1025/ton (CFR Huangpu);

US Dollar Market Prices of LDPE

Film Grade: $1100-$1110/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Coating Grade: $1280/ton (CFR Huangpu);

US Dollar Market Prices of PP

Homopolymer: $895-$965/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Copolymer: $900-$965/ton (CFR Nansha), down $10/ton;

Film Grade: $1030/ton (CFR Nansha);

Transparent Grade: $970-$1055/ton (CFR Huangpu), down $5/ton;

Pipe Grade: $1130/ton (CFR Shanghai);