Ineos Styrolution Closes French Plant! UK Lincolnshire Plans £35 Million Waste Plastic Recycling Facility

International News Guide

Raw Material News - Ineos Styrolution Closes Polystyrene Plant in France

Recycling News - UK Lincolnshire Plans £35 Million Waste Plastic Recycling Facility

Automotive News - RecyClass Designates ELIX Polymers' ABS as Control Material for Recycling Testing

Packaging News - Denmark Announces National Ban on PFAS in Clothing and Footwear

Macroeconomic News - Industry Association to Propose Cost Floor for Quotation Regulation! Lithium Iron Phosphate Sector Promotes Anti-Involution

Price Information - CNY/USD Central Parity Rate Stands at 7.0905, Down 33 Pips

Details of International News

1.Ineos Styrolution Closes Polystyrene Plant in France

According to Plastmatch on November 20, Ineos Styrolution recently announced the permanent closure of its polystyrene (PS) production plant in Wingles, France.

The move is part of the company's strategic restructuring to adapt to the evolving market environment and enhance the overall competitiveness of its European operations. In a statement on its official website, the chemical manufacturer said it will consolidate its European polystyrene production at its advanced facility in Antwerp, Belgium. The Antwerp plant boasts stronger production capacity, a diverse product portfolio, and a strategic location close to key suppliers and customers across Europe.

"This initiative is part of broader efforts to adapt to dynamic market changes and ensure the long-term competitiveness of our European business," the company stated. The plant closure will involve personnel adjustments, with all measures to be implemented in strict compliance with local labor regulations. Ineos Styrolution added that it has initiated consultation procedures with the works council of Ineos Styrolution France to address employee concerns and develop a transition plan.

2. Denmark Announces National Ban on PFAS in Clothing and Footwear

Denmark has announced a nationwide ban on the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in clothing, footwear, and certain consumer products containing waterproofing agents, effective July 1, 2026.

Marking a significant step for environmental protection and public health, the ban is enforced through Executive Order BEK No. 464, issued on May 2, 2025, which imposes strict controls on PFAS in apparel, footwear, and related products.

3. UK Lincolnshire Plans £35 Million Waste Plastic Recycling Facility

A plan to construct a waste plastic recycling facility has recently attracted attention. According to Local Democracy Reporting Service, Clean Planet Energy has submitted proposals to build a £35 million waste plastic recycling plant in Sleaford, Lincolnshire.

The facility is planned for the Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park, specifically located between Pride Parkway and the A17. Industrial layout plans show that the site will feature large warehouse-style buildings, along with various pipelines and equipment. The plant will utilize pyrolysis technology to process plastic—a thermal decomposition process that chemically breaks down plastic into oil and natural gas.

Under the plan, the facility will handle 25,000 tons of plastic annually, including fast-food containers, shopping bags, and plastic films—materials that would otherwise typically be sent to landfills or incinerated.

4. RecyClass Approves ELIX Polymers' ABS as Control Material for ABS Recycling Testing

According to Plastmatch, ELIX ABS HH 3110, launched by ELIX Polymers, has become the first ABS resin to receive technical certification from RecyClass and has been designated as a control material for ABS recyclability testing.

This marks a key milestone in RecyClass' efforts to provide clear, targeted plastic recyclability guidelines for the industry. Following extensive testing at Proplast under the automotive resin and electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) recyclability assessment protocols, ELIX ABS HH 3110 has been officially confirmed fully compatible with automotive and EEE ABS recycling processes.

Modified with poly(styrene-co-maleimide), this high-performance ABS resin from ELIX Polymers offers excellent heat resistance, making it suitable for high-demand applications such as automotive exterior components (e.g., taillight housings, spoilers), automotive interior parts (e.g., center console liners, door panels, and dashboard components), as well as various electrical products (e.g., plugs, switches).

Based on its outstanding test results, the material has been included in RecyClass' list of control materials for ABS plastic component recyclability assessments.

5.Three Organizations Jointly Launch Packliance to Provide One-Stop PPWR Compliance Solutions

Recently, GVÖ, KBS, and RIGK jointly established Packliance GmbH. Integrating their expertise in extended producer responsibility (EPR) implementation, the new company will offer practical guidance to EU businesses to help them comply with the requirements of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) in a compliant manner. Headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany, the service-oriented enterprise will support producers and manufacturers across the EU in implementing PPWR requirements through compliant and pragmatic approaches.

Adopting a clear, solution-driven philosophy, Packliance assists clients in understanding, navigating, and implementing complex regulatory obligations, upholding its core mission: "Rules multiply. We simplify."

"With the launch of Packliance, we have created a dedicated partner to guide and support businesses in gradually achieving PPWR compliance," said Jan Bauer, Managing Director of Packliance GmbH.

Overseas Macroeconomic Market

【Industry Association to Propose Cost Floor for Quotation Regulation! Lithium Iron Phosphate Sector Promotes Anti-Involution】

Sources in the industry reveal that amid prolonged overall losses in China's lithium iron phosphate (LFP) sector, unregulated competition and low-price involution threaten the industry's survival and sustainable development. In response, the China Industrial Association of Power Sources (CIAPS) will issue the "Notice on Referencing the Lithium Iron Phosphate Cost Index and Regulating Industry Development."

The notice recommends that enterprises use the industry average cost range disclosed by the association on November 18 as an important reference for quotations and refrain from predatory pricing below cost. Exclusive sources indicate that CIAPS will regularly publish the monthly industry average cost range starting this month, providing authoritative regulatory basis for enterprise quotations. Additionally, the association advises enterprises to fulfill their information submission obligations by regularly providing accurate and complete operational data (including capacity, output, and inventory) to serve as a key reference for industry resource allocation.

【Vanke: To Further Divest Non-Core Businesses and Assets to Improve Cash Flow and Balance Sheet】

At Vanke's first extraordinary general meeting of 2025 held on November 20, addressing investor concerns about stock prices and capital operations, Vanke's management stated that with support from all stakeholders, the company is fully committed to improving operations and management. Going forward, Vanke will further divest businesses and assets with low strategic relevance through capital operations to enhance cash flow and optimize its asset-liability structure.

【ECLAC: U.S. Tariffs Significantly Reduce Latin America and Caribbean's FDI Attraction Capacity】

The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) released the "2025 International Trade Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean" in Santiago, Chile, on November 19. The report notes that U.S. high tariff policies have created global trade uncertainty, significantly weakening the region's ability to attract foreign direct investment (FDI).

In response, ECLAC recommends that countries in the region reduce reliance on U.S. trade, deepen relations with trading partners such as China, the EU, India, and ASEAN, and strengthen regional cooperation in infrastructure, trade facilitation, and regulatory alignment.

【MOF and MIIT Seek Comments on "Government Procurement Demand Standards for New Energy Vehicles (Draft for Comments)"】

The draft proposes that the standards apply to government procurement projects of new energy vehicles (NEVs) for reference by purchasing entities. NEVs are defined as battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (including extended-range), and fuel cell (hydrogen) vehicles.

【South Korea's Auto Exports to U.S. Drop 29% in October Due to Tariffs】

Data released by South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Thursday showed that South Korea's auto exports fell 10.5% year-on-year to $5.5 billion in October, mainly due to fewer working days caused by the Chuseok holiday. For the first 10 months of this year, cumulative auto exports reached a record $59.6 billion. Affected by tariffs, South Korea's auto exports to the U.S. plummeted 29% year-on-year to $2.12 billion in October.

Price Information

The CNY/USD central parity rate was reported at 7.0905, a decrease of 33 pips; the central parity rate of the previous trading day was 7.0872, the official closing price of the previous trading day was 7.1096, and the night session closing price of the previous day was 7.1135.

【Upstream Raw Material USD Market Prices】

Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia USD 730/ton; CFR Southeast Asia USD 720/ton.

Propylene Northeast Asia: FOB South Korea average USD 695/ton; CFR China average USD 725/ton.

North Asia refrigerated cargo CIF price: Propane USD 520-522/ton; Butane USD 546-548/ton.

South China (China) refrigerated cargo CIF price for early December: Propane USD 563-573/ton; Butane USD 553-563/ton.

Taiwan region refrigerated cargo CIF price: Propane USD 520-522/ton; Butane USD 546-548/ton.

【LLDPE USD Market Prices】

Film: USD 835-855/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Injection Molding: USD 935/ton (CFR Huangpu).

【HDPE USD Market Prices】

Film: USD 830-905/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Injection Molding: USD 800-830/ton (CFR Huangpu) [Note: Corrected the typo "800-30" to "800-830"];

Blow Molding (Hollow): USD 830/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipes: USD 1000/ton (CFR Huangpu).

【LDPE USD Market Prices】

Film: USD 1000-1050/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Coating: USD 1280/ton (CFR Huangpu).

【PP USD Market Prices】

Injection Molding: USD 800/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Copolymer: USD 820-860/ton (CFR Nansha);

Film Grade: USD 975/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Transparent Grade: USD 1065/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipes: USD 1100/ton (CFR Shanghai).