[International News] Dollar Index Falls to Near 4-Year Low, Malaysia Introduces Auto Subsidy Program, Milliken to Showcase New Products

News Briefs

Raw Material News-INEOS Launches RecycI-IN Polymers with 70% Recycled Content to Support Sustainable Cosmetic Packaging

Automotive News- Malaysia's 2026 Budget: Introducing Scrappage Scheme for Old Vehicles

Packaging News- European supermarket shelves flooded with "misleading" recycled plastic packaging claims

Architecture News The plastics industry faces multiple challenges in the construction market by 2026.

Medical News HighlightsRosti expands medical and life science plastic component production with two new ISO Class 8 cleanrooms in the US.

Exhibition News- Milliken to Showcase Solutions for Enhanced Polymer Performance and Usage Efficiency at India International Plastics Exhibition 2026

Macro News - The U.S. dollar index falls to near a 4-year low

Price InformationThe PBOC set the USD/CNY central rate at 6.9755, 103 pips stronger, the highest since May 2023 and the biggest increase since August.

Here are the details of international news:

1.Ineos launches Recycl-IN polymers with 70% recycled content to boost sustainable cosmetics packaging.

INEOS has launched a new RecycI-IN polymer, rPP1025C, which contains 70% recycled content. This material offers a high-performance, compliant, and low-carbon solution for the cosmetics packaging sector.

INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe has announced a new grade to its RecycI-IN range, demonstrating its strong commitment to promoting sustainability in the plastics and packaging industries. The new RecycI-IN compound, containing 70% recycled content, is specifically developed to meet the stringent requirements of sensitive cosmetic packaging. With this innovation, INEOS aims to help brands increase the recycled content of their packaging without compromising product quality, performance, or aesthetics.

2.Milliken to Showcase Solutions for Enhancing Polymer Performance and Efficiency at Plastindia 2026

Milliken & Company will showcase its full range of advanced polymer innovations at Plastindia 2026, held in New Delhi, India, from February 5-10, precisely addressing the evolving market demands of the plastics industry.

At this year's exhibition, Milliken will unveil several innovative products, including next-generation technological advancements in polymer performance enhancement, empowering the future development of the plastics industry with innovative strength.

3.Rosti Adds Two New ISO Class 8 Cleanrooms in the US, Increasing Production of Medical and Life Science Plastic Components

Rosti, a globally renowned plastic injection moulding company and contract manufacturer, has announced the construction of new ISO Class 8 cleanrooms at its two US production sites in Germantown, Wisconsin, and Clearfield, Utah. In a press release, the company stated that this investment will further expand Rosti Group’s medical manufacturing footprint in North America, while underscoring its commitment to providing customers with high-precision, regulatory-compliant, and standardized production environments.

4.European supermarket shelves flooded with "misleading" recycled plastic packaging claims

On European supermarket shelves, numerous brands claim their plastic packaging is sustainable. However, only a small portion of these packaging materials actually comes from recycled waste; the majority is still made from oil. The plastic packaging used by brands ranging from Kraft Heinz's beans to Mondelez International's Philadelphia cream cheese is produced by Saudi Aramco's plastics manufacturing division.

Saudi Aramco, the Saudi Arabian state-owned company, opposes production cuts under the UN plastics treaty, and it is the world's largest corporate greenhouse gas emitter (over 70 million tons as of 2023). Saudi Aramco's petrochemical subsidiary, Sabic, along with other industry giants, has successfully repackaged its harmful business as "earth savers." They label plastics as "circular" and climate-friendly, when in reality, these plastics are almost entirely fossil fuel-based, exacerbating global warming and the plastic crisis.

5.The plastics industry directly confronts multiple challenges in the 2026 construction market.

Dr. Perc Pineda, Chief Economist at the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), has released an economic analysis report that, in conjunction with the latest U.S. GDP data, analyzes its impact on construction activity and plastics demand, and forecasts the industry outlook for 2026. In his analysis, Pineda wrote: "The latest revisions to the U.S. third-quarter GDP data confirm the resilience of the economy, with output growing at a robust annual rate of 4.4%."

However, the outlook for the construction industry, a core end market for plastic manufacturers, is challenging. Investment in non-residential construction, including commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and data centers, has contracted for seven consecutive quarters. Residential construction investment has fared slightly better, but has only seen positive growth in two of the past seven quarters. Pineda stated: "It is highly probable that both types of construction investment will not recover growth in the fourth quarter, making the market outlook for 2026 crucial for the plastics industry in construction-related sectors."

The prolonged weakness in construction investment has a direct impact on plastics manufacturers. According to the "2025 Size and Impact Report on the U.S. Plastics Industry," for every dollar spent on single-family home construction, 2.3 cents goes towards plastic products. In 2024, the market size for plastic products in single-family home construction reached $10.1 billion, while for other residential construction it was $9.4 billion, and for commercial construction, such as farm buildings, it was $6.9 billion.

6.Malaysia's 2026 Budget: Launch of Scrappage Subsidy Scheme for Old Cars

According to foreign media reports, during the reading of the 2026 fiscal budget, Malaysian Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Malaysian government would collaborate with local car manufacturers to launch a matching scrap subsidy program for vehicles over 20 years old. This program allows eligible car owners to receive a cash subsidy jointly provided by car companies and the government after scrapping their old vehicles. The government's portion will be up to 4,000 Ringgit, matching the amount offered by the car company.

Rare! Medtronic and Mindray Collaborate to Target the US Outpatient Market

Medtronic and Mindray recently announced the expansion of their strategic partnership in patient monitoring technology from hospitals to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), further demonstrating their shared commitment to supporting clinicians and patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings across the United States.

The parties stated that the alliance simplifies access to and integration of the two companies' advanced monitoring solutions, which is expected to help reduce costs, improve clinical outcomes, and enhance patient care.

Overseas Macro Market

[Dollar Index Falls to Nearly 4-Year Low]

Driven by multiple expectations, investors sold off the dollar, causing the dollar index to continue its decline on January 27th, sharply falling to a nearly four-year low by the end of the trading day. The dollar index, which measures the dollar against six major currencies, fell 0.84% that day, closing at 96.219 in late trading. Subsequently, the dollar index further dropped to 95.55, reaching a new low since mid-February 2022. The euro, which has the largest weighting in the dollar index, rose above the 1.20 psychological barrier against the dollar for the first time since 2021. Karl Schamotta, Chief Market Strategist at Cambridge Global Payments, stated that with the US continuing its tariff policies and the government potentially facing another shutdown, economic policy uncertainty has significantly increased again, leading to the sustained decline of the dollar index.

Tesla Sales Continue to "Cool Down" in Europe

According to statistics released by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association on the 27th, the US electric vehicle brand Tesla registered 238,656 new vehicles in Europe in 2025, a year-on-year decrease of 26.9%. These industry association statistics cover the European Union as well as the UK, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Within the EU, Tesla's new vehicle registrations in 2025 fell by 37.9% year-on-year, with its market share dropping from 2.3% in 2024 to 1.4%.

[US Media: US Immigration Enforcement Agents Attempted to Break into Ecuadorian Consulate, Ecuador Submits Protest Note]

According to reports from US media outlets such as The New York Times, Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 27th local time, stating that a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent attempted to enter the Ecuadorian Consulate in Minneapolis that day but was stopped by consulate staff. The statement also said that Ecuador had delivered a protest note to the US Embassy in Ecuador to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Venezuelan Vice President: Funds frozen by US sanctions are being unfrozen.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on January 27 local time that some of Venezuela's frozen funds, due to US sanctions, are being unfrozen and will be used for social investment.

[Puerto Rico declares state of emergency due to flu outbreak]

Local time January 27, Puerto Rico Governor González signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency across the territory due to an influenza outbreak, in order to initiate special measures to protect public health. According to a statement from the Puerto Rican government, under the state of emergency, the government will mobilize resources, coordinate, and authorize the Secretary of Health as the primary person responsible for directing, coordinating, and implementing emergency response measures to protect public health.

Trump: US will no longer aid Iraq if Maliki is elected Prime Minister.

On October 27, US President Trump posted on social media that if former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was re-elected prime minister, the United States would no longer provide aid to Iraq. Trump said that reappointing Maliki as prime minister would be a "very bad choice" for Iraq. Due to Maliki's "policies and ideology," if he were elected, "the United States will no longer help Iraq."

Iranian Official Says Hormuz Strait Under Real-Time Monitoring

On the 27th, it was reported that Mohammad Akbarzadeh, a senior naval commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated that Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz has surpassed traditional methods and achieved complete intelligence. Iran is now monitoring all maritime, surface, and underwater activities in real time. Whether or not ships flying different national flags are allowed to pass through the Strait is entirely up to Iran. Iran has control. The security of this strategic passage depends on Tehran's decisions.

[Sources Say Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal a Prerequisite for US Security Guarantees to Ukraine]

On January 27, sources said that the United States has told Ukraine that it will only receive security guarantees from the US after signing a peace agreement with Russia.

Price information.

[The yuan-dollar central parity rate was raised by 103 points to 6.9755, the highest since May 2023, and the largest increase since August.]

The PBOC set the USD/CNY central parity rate at 6.9755, 103 pips stronger than the previous fixing. The previous day's central parity rate was 6.9858, the previous day's official closing price was 6.9576, and the previous day's night trading session closed at 6.9545.

[Upstream Raw Material USD Market Price]

CFR Northeast Asia USD 700/ton, CFR Southeast Asia USD 685/ton.

Northeast Asia propylene FOB Korea average price reached US$770/ton, and CFR China average price reached US$825/ton.

North Asia CFR, Propane $583-586/MT; Butane $603-606/MT.

South China frozen cargo February arrival prices: propane $613-623/ton; butane $608-618USD/ton

Taiwan region CFR, propane $583-586/ton; butane $603-606/ton.

[LLDPE Market Price in USD]

Film: $815/ton (CFR Xiamen)

Injection molding: 910 USD/ton (CFR Xiamen)

[HDPE US Market Prices]

Film: USD 900/MT (CFR Huangpu)

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

Hollow: USD 795-850/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Pipes: USD 1,000/ton (CFR Huangpu)

[LDPE US Market Price]

Film: USD 1015/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Coating: USD 1,240/MT (CFR Huangpu).

[USD Market Price]

Injection molding: $810/ton (CFR Dongguan);

Gathering: USD 870/ton (CFR Nansha)

Film material: 960 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Transparent: 1100 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Pipes: $1120/ton (CFR Shanghai).