Celanese POM Secures International Certification! Borealis Steps Up Chemical Recycling Technology Development

International News Guide

Corporate News - Celanese’s POM grades obtain ISCC Carbon Footprint Certification

Recycling News - Alberta, Canada extends agricultural plastic recycling program by two years

Capacity News - Borealis partners with BlueAlp to advance chemical recycling technology

Other News - ADNOC completes acquisition of Covestro

Macroeconomic News - UN General Assembly formally adopts the United Nations Convention on Transferable Records of Goods

Price Information - CNY/USD central parity rate at 7.0573, up 29 pips

1. Alberta, Canada Extends Agricultural Plastic Recycling Program by Two Years

Plastmatch reported on December 17 that the Government of Alberta, Canada has renewed funding and approved a two-year extension of the "Alberta Ag-Plastic Recycle It!" pilot program, which will now run until December 2027.

Launched in 2019, this pilot program provides practical recycling solutions for agricultural producers in Alberta for materials such as plastic grain bags and baling twine. Starting from 2026, the program will be expanded in some parts of the province to include the recycling of compact silage plastics and round bale wrap.

Developed by the Agricultural Plastic Recycling Group (APRG) - an organization consisting of recyclers, commodity groups, farmers, municipal agencies and non-profit organizations - the program is operated in cooperation with Cleanfarms and APRG. All parties work together to promote the responsible management of agricultural plastics in Alberta.

2. 2025 European Polymer Annual Report: Oversupply and Weak End-market Drag Down the Industry

At the end of 2025, the European polymer industry is trapped in severe operational pressure. The market pattern of oversupply coupled with weak demand has shown early signs of structural contraction in the industry.

Across various industrial chains, manufacturers are constantly facing the dilemma of squeezed profit margins and have to re-examine their production models and location layouts. Martin Beck, Head of the Price Research Team at European Plastics Magazine, reviewed the core industry developments of this year and explained the underlying reasons why the market outlook remains grim in 2026.

When asked about the most volatile product categories in 2025, Beck pointed out that polyester and styrenic polymers have been hit the hardest. "The European polyethylene and polypropylene markets have always been constrained by the dual pressures of global oversupply and the impact of imported products," he said. "However, since this year, the purified terephthalic acid/polyester industrial chain and styrenic polymers have been in an extremely difficult situation. The continuous decline in product prices and the shrinking profit margins of enterprises not only reflect the fundamental shrinkage of market demand, but also expose the deep-seated structural problems existing in the industry."

3. Borealis Partners with BlueAlp to Advance Chemical Recycling Technology

Plastmatch learned on December 17 that Borealis announced a strategic partnership with BlueAlp, a chemical recycling technology company headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

As part of the agreement, Borealis, a global provider of advanced sustainable polyolefin solutions, will transfer its majority stake in Renasci, a chemical recycling company based in Ostend, Belgium, to BlueAlp. In return, Borealis will acquire a 10% stake in BlueAlp to support its business growth and large-scale expansion. At present, the financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Renasci, a leading enterprise in the European chemical recycling field, has obtained a technology license from BlueAlp and built a large-scale plant with an annual capacity of 20,000 tons. In recent years, BlueAlp has been responsible for the engineering design, construction and operation support of the plant.

4. Celanese’s POM Grades Obtain ISCC Carbon Footprint Certification

The eco-friendly grades of Hostaform® and Celcon® polyoxymethylene (POM) series produced at Celanese’s manufacturing bases in Frankfurt, Germany and Bishop, Texas, USA have passed the Carbon Footprint Certification (CFC) issued by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) organization.

This move further expands Celanese’s network of certified production bases, helps customers reduce the carbon footprint of their products, and accelerates the transition to a circular economy. This landmark achievement demonstrates Celanese’s firm commitment to sustainable development and innovation.

5. ADNOC Completes Acquisition of Covestro

XRG P.J.S.C. has officially completed the voluntary public takeover of Covestro, marking an important step for this Abu Dhabi-based investment group towards its goal of becoming one of the world’s top three chemical investors.

XRG (formerly known as ADNOC International Limited) confirmed that its wholly-owned subsidiary, ADNOC International Germany Holding AG, has completed the acquisition and all related agreements after obtaining the prior regulatory approvals. As part of the transaction, XRG is injecting 1.17 billion euros into Covestro through a planned capital increase to strengthen the German manufacturer’s balance sheet under the new ownership structure.

Macroeconomic News

1. Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xiong Jijun Meets Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade Mezour

On December 16, Xiong Jijun, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology, met with Ryad Mezour, Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade, in Beijing to exchange views on strengthening practical industrial cooperation between China and Morocco.

2. Liao Min Attends G20 Deputies Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors

According to the Ministry of Finance, the United States, the chair of the G20 in 2026, held the first G20 Deputies Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Washington after taking over the chairmanship.

The meeting discussed the work arrangements of the G20 finance track in 2026, as well as the key topics and work plans of the track. Liao Min, Vice Minister of Finance, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

3. Australian PM: Australia’s Intelligence System Has "Substantial Problems" and Needs to Be Reviewed

On December 17 local time, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Australia’s intelligence system has "substantial problems" and will be subject to a review.

He said that it is necessary to re-examine the investigation and the assessment results of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization on Naved Akram, one of the two gunmen in the Bondi Beach shooting incident in 2019.

4. UN General Assembly Formally Adopts the United Nations Convention on Transferable Records of Goods

On December 15 local time in New York, USA, the 80th session of the UN General Assembly formally deliberated and adopted the United Nations Convention on Transferable Records of Goods and authorized Ghana to host the signing ceremony in 2026.

China is the sponsor and main promoter of the convention. The conclusion of the convention is an important measure for China to uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and actively implement the four major global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping. The convention fully demonstrates China’s determination and actions to adhere to true multilateralism, strive to provide global public goods, and promote the reform and improvement of global governance.

5. US and Japan to Review Energy Projects, Potential First Investments of Their $550 Billion Joint Fund

Informed sources revealed that the United States and Japan will review energy projects, which may become the first investments of their landmark $550 billion joint fund.

A committee responsible for evaluating potential investment projects will hold its first meeting in Washington on Wednesday, where it will review a number of energy projects. The Initial Consultative Committee will hold another meeting next week, and these projects may be submitted to Trump as early as the beginning of 2026. The specific content of the projects, their respective industries and the US states involved are still unknown.

Price Information

CNY/USD central parity rate: Reported at 7.0573, up 29 pips; the central parity rate of the previous trading day was 7.0602, the official closing price of the previous trading day was 7.0425, and the overnight closing price was 7.0432.

Upstream raw material USD market prices:

Ethylene: $745 per ton (CFR Northeast Asia); $725 per ton (CFR Southeast Asia)

Propylene (Northeast Asia): Average FOB South Korea price of $715 per ton; average CFR China price of $750 per ton

Refrigerated cargo CIF prices (North Asia): Propane ranges from $545 to $547 per ton; butane ranges from $600 to $602 per ton

Refrigerated cargo CIF prices (South China, early January): Propane between $583 and $593 per ton; butane between $573 and $583 per ton

Refrigerated cargo CIF prices (Taiwan Region): Propane ranges from $545 to $547 per ton; butane ranges from $600 to $602 per ton

Polyolefin USD market prices (CFR Huangpu unless specified):

LLDPE: Film grade $760-$780 per ton; injection grade $870 per ton

HDPE: Film grade $870-$885 per ton; injection grade $780 per ton; hollow grade $820-$850 per ton; pipe grade $1000 per ton

LDPE: Film grade $990-$1015 per ton; coating grade $1050-$1180 per ton (CFR Qingdao)

PP: Injection grade $785 per ton; copolymer $830-$855 per ton (CFR Nansha); film grade $970-$985 per ton; transparent grade $1065 per ton; pipe grade $1100 per ton (CFR Shanghai)