【Overseas News】Trump Threatens Tariff Hike on Mexico! SSOCO Helps Mass Production of Electric Aircraft for Vertical Aviation

International News Brief:

Raw Material News - $7.66 million project launched! Renaissance collaborates with Biome, focusing on renewable bioplastics.

Packaging News - $1.51 Billion Investment! ProAmpac Strategically Acquires TCP, Expanding Global Sustainable Packaging Layout

Aviation News - Strong Partnership! Safran Supports Vertical Aerospace in Accelerating the Mass Production of the VX4 Electric Aircraft.

Medical News - Covestro and Allmed Collaborate to Explore Polycarbonate Recovery from Artificial Kidney Filters

Electronic News - IBM to Acquire Confluent for $11 Billion

Automotive News - Ford and Renault Reach Strategic Partnership to Develop Electric Vehicles for the European Market.

Macroeconomic NewsGermany to approve a record-breaking 52 billion euro arms purchase order.

Price InformationThe central parity rate of the RMB against the USD is reported at 7.0773, down 9 points.

Here are the details of international news:

7.66 million project launched! Renaissance partners with Biome to focus on renewable bioplastics.

Renaissance BioScience Corp. of Canada has reached a two-year cooperation agreement with Biome Bioplastics Limited of the UK, with the project valued at up to 1.5 million Canadian dollars (approximately 7.66 million yuan).

Both parties will leverage advanced fermentation technology to innovate sustainable and renewable production methods for bioplastic materials. The products will target applications in packaging, personal care, health, and consumer goods, providing a sustainable and high-performance alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics.

2. GreenDot acquires Italian recycled HDPE/PP compounder Forplast.

GreenDot recently acquired 80% of the shares of Italian company Forplast, with the specific amount undisclosed. Forplast is a specialized company in recycling high-density polyethylene and polypropylene compounds. According to GreenDot's major shareholder Agilyx, this all-cash transaction includes an advance payment made in 2023 and a final payment at the time of closing.

On December 8th, Agilyx announced this news. GreenDot expects Forplast to achieve positive EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) by 2026 and exceed annual revenue of 50 million euros by 2030.

Strong alliance! Skyworks assists Vertical Aerospace in accelerating the mass production process of the VX4 electric aircraft.

Vertical Aerospace announced a long-term supplier partnership agreement with Syensqo, in which both parties will collaborate to integrate advanced materials for the VX4 electric aircraft. The model is scheduled to complete airworthiness certification by 2028, after which it will officially enter commercial operation.

This collaboration is the deep implementation of the joint research and development results over many years between the two companies. As a leading company in the electric aviation field, Vertical Aerospace is partnering with advanced composite materials and adhesives manufacturer Trinseo to enhance the lightweight strength, structural efficiency, and durability of the VX4 aircraft. According to both parties, the mentioned materials have already been applied in Vertical Aerospace's prototype project and will be fully integrated into the entire structure of the aircraft in the future to meet the stringent demands of high-frequency flight operations for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

Investing $1.51 billion! ProAmpac strategically acquires TCP to enhance global sustainable packaging layout.

ProAmpac has signed a definitive agreement to acquire TC Transcontinental Packaging (referred to as TCP) from TC Transcontinental Group for $1.51 billion. The transaction amount will be subject to customary adjustments for debt and debt-like items, cash, and net working capital. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending shareholder approval, regulatory permits, and other customary closing conditions.

Italy will introduce textile EPR in 2026.

According to a release by Blue Whale News, Italy will introduce a textile EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) system in 2026 to address EU regulatory requirements and tackle issues of low textile recycling rates and high compliance costs. The direct impetus for reform is that Italy's textile recycling rate is only about 12%, far below industry needs, and its supply chain management and waste treatment systems urgently need restructuring. The government is also referencing the French model to advance "ultra-fast fashion" regulation and is working with industry alliances to proactively plan implementation requirements, ensuring that the regulations can quickly enter the execution stage once enacted. In terms of regulatory support, companies such as Kering, Prada, and Zegna, along with the Italian Fashion and Accessories Industry Association, are promoting a unified supply chain environmental data system, including open-source regulatory tools, a unified questionnaire, and a proposed technical committee to enhance data comparability and transparency in the decarbonization process.

Covestro collaborates with Allmed to explore the recycling of polycarbonate from artificial kidney filters.

Global leading supplier of high-performance polymer materials Covestro has announced a partnership with international blood purification specialist Allmed to jointly research the recycling of discarded artificial kidney filters. The study will explore the recovery of materials from medical devices.PolycarbonateThe potential and use it in new products containing recycled materials.

The collaboration aims to establish a circular economy model for medical device development by verifying technical feasibility and economic benefits, while addressing the complex regulatory environment in the field of medical waste management. Allmed and Covestro are working with other partners in the UK, including Allmed's distribution partner Kimal, a leading regional hospital trust, and a specialized recycling company, to prepare for the first recycling trial.

IBM will acquire Confluent for $11 billion.

IBM and data infrastructure company Confluent have announced that they have signed a definitive agreement, under which IBM will acquire all issued and outstanding common stock of Confluent at a price of $31 per share, valuing the transaction at approximately $11 billion. IBM will pay for the transaction in cash, and the deal is expected to be completed by mid-2026. Confluent offers a leading open-source enterprise data streaming platform that enables real-time connection, processing, and management of reusable and reliable data and events, which is fundamental for deploying artificial intelligence.

Ford and Renault have reached a strategic cooperation to develop electric vehicles for the European market.

Ford, the automotive giant, and (8.54, 0.00, 0.00%)On Tuesday, it announced that they have reached a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly develop small, inexpensive electric vehicles for the European market and will jointly produce commercial vans to reduce costs and address increasingly fierce competition.

As part of the collaboration, the two companies plan to launch two small electric vehicles, the first of which will be manufactured at the Renault plant in northern France and is expected to hit European showrooms in 2028. Farley stated that both vehicles will be smaller than any models Ford offers in the U.S. market and will fill a gap in Ford's product line.

The two car manufacturers will also jointly develop vans for the Renault and Ford brands aimed at the European market.

Overseas Macro Market:

[Report: Germany to Approve Record €52 Billion Military Procurement Order] Bloomberg, citing informed sources, reported that the order covers a wide range of materials and services, including €22 billion worth of basic military equipment and clothing, €4.2 billion worth of "Puma" infantry fighting vehicles, €3 billion worth of "Arrow-3" missile defense interceptors and launch vehicles, and €1.6 billion for reconnaissance satellites.

[Quanzhou, Fujian: Further Relaxing Market Access Restrictions for Taiwanese Investment and Enterprises, Deepening Cooperation in Areas such as Integrated Circuits] The Quanzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China has released suggestions for the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development in Quanzhou. It mentions optimizing the business environment related to Taiwan, further relaxing market access restrictions for Taiwanese investment and enterprises, strengthening the connection of market rules and the docking of economic and trade mechanisms, and promoting common standards across the Taiwan Strait. The key areas of integration and development between Quanzhou and Taiwan will be implemented in a rolling manner. Deepen cooperation with Taiwan in fields such as integrated circuits, fine chemicals, biomedicine, equipment manufacturing, and modern agriculture. Construct the Quanzhou Taiwan Business Investment Zone and the Cross-Strait Integrated Circuit Industry Cooperation Pilot Zone, among other Taiwan-related parks, with high quality.

[Governor of the Bank of Korea: South Korea's Potential Growth Rate Has Dropped Below 2%] The Governor of the Bank of Korea, Lee Chang-yong, stated that South Korea's potential growth rate seems to have decreased from around 5% in the early 2000s to below 2% recently. If the current trend continues, the potential growth rate is likely to fall into the 0% range by the 2040s.

[Trump Threatens Mexico: If They Do Not "Release Water Immediately," an Additional 5% Tariff Will Be Imposed] According to Reuters and other foreign media reports, U.S. President Trump on the 8th local time once again accused Mexico of violating the water-sharing treaty signed in 1944, threatening that if Mexico does not immediately provide more water resources to help American farmers, he will impose an additional 5% tariff on Mexico.

Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov stated on December 8 that contact between Russia and the United States is ongoing, but to date, the U.S. has not informed Russia of any specific results from its negotiations with Ukraine. The U.S. and Ukrainian delegations concluded a three-day meeting in Miami, Florida, on the 6th, during which they primarily discussed territorial and security assurance issues.

Price Information:

The central parity rate of the RMB against the USD is reported at 7.0773, down 9 points; the previous trading day's central parity rate was 7.0764, the official closing price of the previous trading day was 7.0713, and the overnight session closing was 7.0730.

Upstream raw material USD market price

CFR Northeast Asia 745 USD/ton, CFR Southeast Asia 725 USD/ton.

The average FOB price of propylene in Northeast Asia is $715 per ton, while the average CFR price in China is $750 per ton.

The CFR price for Northeast Asia is $562-564 per ton for propane and $617-619 per ton for butane.

In December, the CFR price for frozen cargo in South China is $583-593 per ton for propane and $573-583 per ton for butane.

The CIF price in Taiwan for propane is 562-564 USD/ton; for butane, it is 617-619 USD/ton.

LLDPE USD market price

Film: $790-810/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Injection molding: USD 980/ton (CFR Huangpu).

[HDPE USD Market Price]

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

Injection molding: 780 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Hollow: 820-825 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipes: $1000/ton (CFR Huangpu);

[LDPE USD Market Price]

Film: $990-1015/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Coating: 1050-1180 USD/ton (CFR Qingdao).

[PP US Dollar Market Price]

Injection molding: $785/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Copolymer: $830-855/ton (CFR Nansha);

Film material: $970-985/ton (CFR Huangpu).

Transparent: $1,065/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipes: $1100/ton (CFR Shanghai).