Evonik Restructures New Department! UPM Launches New Packaging! Rubber Group TRG Completes Acquisition of DPI

International News Digest

Raw Material NewsEvonik reorganized its R&D department into an Innovation Center, focusing on efficient implementation and market orientation.

-TRG Acquires DPI, Becoming a One-Stop Supplier of Rubber and Polyurethane

Paper meets plastic! UPM and Paramelt launch compostable food packaging

Medical News Highlights-Imaging giant, integrating three core businesses

Aviation News – New Progress in Aircraft Retired Component Recycling! Daher Builds a Thermoplastic Composite Upcycling Value Chain

The following is the details of international news.：

1. Evonik reorganized its R&D department into Innovation Centers, focusing on efficient implementation and market orientation.

German chemical company Evonik is reorganizing its strategic R&D department into Evonik Innovation Hub. This new department operates as a startup development unit, accelerating the transformation of technological breakthroughs into industrial applications. The company has defined its core mission: to conduct innovation work at a faster pace, with a stronger market orientation, and more closely aligned with application needs.

2.TRG Acquires DPI, Becoming a One-Stop Supplier of Rubber and Polyurethane

Rubber GroupTRG has completed the acquisition of Diversified Plastics, Inc. (DPI). Both parties stated that the acquisition will strengthen the company’s product portfolio, enabling customers to now source rubber, plastic, and polyurethane products and services from this integrated, reliable enterprise through a single point of contact. The Rubber Group, registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), specializes in custom-molded and injection-molded rubber components, including cable protectors, bellows, bumpers, seals, and hoses. These products are widely used in critical, high-risk applications across multiple end markets—including medical, aerospace and defense, oil and gas, general industrial, and transportation—where failure carries significant costs.

3. Paper and plastic combined!UPM and Paramelt Launch Compostable Food Packaging

UPM Specialty Materials and Paramelt have recently jointly developed a paper-based packaging solution that combines the barrier properties of plastics with the sustainability advantages of fiber materials. The solution integrates UPM's high-performance barrier kraft paper with Paramelt's bio-based heat-seal barrier coating, enabling excellent oil resistance, reliable heat-sealing performance, and optimized end-of-life disposal, while the entire product is recyclable.

4. New Advances in Recycling Retired Aircraft Components!Daher Establishes a Value Chain for Upcycling Thermoplastic Composites

Aviation GroupDaher has established a complete upcycling value chain from waste collection to material re-entry into production. This move aims to reintroduce these materials into new manufacturing cycles, creating environmental benefits and enhancing industrial autonomy and control.The first core segment of this strategy focuses on the upgrading and recycling of waste generated during the production of thermoplastic composite parts. Currently, the production process generates. 100% pure carbon fiber polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) waste is upcycled through this process, with the final semi-finished product being 56% carbon fiber particle material.

5.Imaging giant, integrating three core businesses

Global imaging giant Samsung Medison announces the completion of a major integration of its U.S. medical imaging business.— The former Neurologica and Boston Imaging divisions have officially merged into "Samsung HME (Healthcare and Medical Equipment)" in the U.S. This transformation marks Samsung's integration of its three core businesses—ultrasound, digital radiography, and computed tomography (CT)—into a unified structure, leveraging its global brand and technology to deepen its presence in the U.S. healthcare market.

6.Ensure America"Space Leadership": NASA Plans to Spend $20 Billion Building a Lunar Base

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA has officially announced plans to invest $20 billion in constructing a permanent lunar surface base, aiming to complete construction within seven years and achieve long-term astronaut habitation by 2031. This initiative is intended to secure U.S. "leadership in space" amid intense global competition in deep space exploration. The plan marks a significant strategic shift for NASA, as it abandons the nearly decade-long "Lunar Gateway" orbiting space station project and redirects all resources and funding toward lunar surface base development. Some already-built modules from the original space station will be repurposed to avoid waste, and the entire $20 billion will be allocated to the base's research and development, construction, transportation, and operations.

7. Japan begins to release oil reserves: The total amount to be released is expected to be approximately8.5 million kiloliters

According to Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the release of Japan’s national petroleum reserves began at the facility in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture.The "Kikuma National Petroleum Reserve Base" has begun implementation. The Japanese government plans to release reserves from this base and eight others nationwide within this month, add two more bases in April, and ultimately carry out releases sequentially from a total of 11 bases across the country. The total volume released is expected to be approximately 8.5 million kiloliters, equivalent to about one month of Japan's domestic petroleum consumption.The national oil reserves released this time will be sold by the Japanese government at approximatelyIt will be sold to Japan's four major petroleum wholesalers at a price of 540 billion yen, and these companies will refine it into gasoline and other refined products for market distribution. Additionally, the Japanese government plans to cooperate with oil-producing countries to release oil from the jointly held reserves stored in Japan, equivalent to approximately five days' worth of consumption, starting this month.

Overseas Macro Market

[Iran launched the82 waves of strikes

Today (March 26), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran issued a statement announcing that the 82nd round of military operations under “Operation True Promise 4” commenced in the early hours of the day and has achieved phased progress. The statement stated that this round of operations employed drones to strike multiple U.S. military bases, targeting Patriot air defense system radars, P-8 reconnaissance aircraft hangars, fuel storage facilities, and facilities related to MQ-9 drones.

UAE's Abu Dhabi hit by ballistic missile attack 2 dead, 3 injured

On March 26 local time, the Abu Dhabi Media Office stated that the country's air defense system successfully intercepted a ballistic missile, and relevant departments are handling the debris fall. The Abu Dhabi Media Office indicated that the incident resulted in the death of two unidentified individuals, three others were injured, and multiple vehicles were damaged.

【Shutdown deadlock persists, multiple U.S. airports at risk of closure

Michael M. Mcevoy, acting administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, said during a hearing in the House of Representatives on March 25 that if the Department of Homeland Security "shuts down" and the shortage of airport security personnel remains unresolved, the agency may have to consider closing some U.S. airports until funding is restored.

Iranian military says has hit or shot down202 U.S.-Israel aircraft

The Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, Al-Hamayat Al-Anbiya, released statistics on the 26th, stating that since the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran last month on the 28th, Iran has hit or shot down 202 U.S. and Israeli aircraft, including MQ-9 "Reaper" drones, KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft, and F-35, F-15, F-16, and F-18 fighter jets.

【G7 energy and finance ministers and central bank governors will meet on Monday to discuss the situation in the Middle East.

French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said that G7 finance ministers, energy ministers, and central bank governors will meet on Monday to discuss the situation in the Middle East. "We are currently at a juncture where economic issues, energy issues, inflation, and central bank policies intersect," Lescure stated. France currently holds the G7 presidency. Lescure added that this will be the first such meeting in 50 years bringing together finance ministers, energy ministers, and central bank governors.

Iran's Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade: Nationwide production activities will not be interrupted.

Local timeOn the 26th, Ali Atabaki, Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade, stated that relevant departments have made arrangements to ensure the continuous advancement of nationwide production activities without interruption. Atabaki also noted that, during the reconstruction and restoration process, enterprises playing a critical role in industrial chains will be prioritized for repair. He emphasized that factories severely damaged in the incident are currently undergoing professional assessment, and related plans have already been formulated to safeguard production continuity and prevent shortages of essential goods.

Indian Oil Corporation sinceFirst purchase of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas since 2018

According to informed sources, India's state-owned oil company has purchased liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Iran for the first time in eight years. The outbreak of the Middle East conflict has worsened the country's severe shortage of this important cooking fuel. The refinery will share the cargo with other state-owned refining companies such as Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation. According to data intelligence firm Kpler, India's state-owned oil company last purchased LPG from Iran in June 2018. The current shipment consists of approximately 43,000 tons of butane and propane.

Iran: Ships from China, Russia, Pakistan, Iraq, India, Bangladesh, and other countries have safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

Local TimeOn March 25, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said in an interview with the Iranian state media, "The United States forced Iran to demonstrate its control over the Strait of Hormuz—the U.S. thought Iran was bluffing and that Iran did not have the courage to do such a thing, but Iran did it. The U.S. mobilized all its capabilities to stop it, but failed."

Here is the price information:

The central parity rate of the RMB against the US dollar hitA new low since March 16th

The central parity rate of the Chinese yuan against the US dollar was set at 6.9056, down by 145 pips from the previous trading day's rate of 6.8911. The official closing rate on the previous trading day was 6.8977, and the overnight trading session closed at 6.8986.

[Upstream Raw Material USD Market Price]

On March 25, CFR Northeast Asia was $1,400/ton, down $50/ton, and CFR Southeast Asia was $1,400/ton, down $50/ton.

Northeast Asia PropyleneFOB Korea average price increased by 30 dollars per ton to 1230 dollars per ton, CFR China average price increased by 45 dollars per ton to 1280 dollars per ton.

North Asia propane CFR price877-887 USD/ton; Butane 877-887 USD/ton.

South China Frozen GoodsApril CFR price: propane $1,158–$1,168/ton; butane $1,158–$1,168/ton.

Free on Board (FOB) price of frozen cargo in Taiwan, Propane877-887 USD/ton; Butane 877-887 USD/ton.

【LLDPE USD Market Price

Thin film$1160 per ton (CFR Huangpu)

Injection molding: Translate the above content into English, output the translation result directly, without any explanation.USD 1,450 per metric ton (CFR Dongguan)

【HDPE USD Market Price

Film: No quotation available

Hollow:$1250 per ton (CFR Huangpu)

Injection Molding:USD 1,420 per metric ton (CFR Yantian)

Pipe materials: No quotation available;

【LDPE USD market price

Thin film$1450 per ton (CFR Dongguan)

Coating: No quotation.

【PP USD Market Price

Homopolymerization$1310 per ton (CFR Huangpu)

CopolymerizationUSD 1,535 per metric ton CFR Huangpu

Film material: No quotation;

Transparent:$1430 per ton (CFR Huangpu)

Pipe material:$1530 per ton (CFR Shanghai)