[International News] Tesla Achieves Large-Scale Production of Dry Electrode Batteries; Polypropylene (PP) Cold Drink Cups Obtain United States (US) General Recyclable Certification

International News Highlights

Big Tech NewsFarewell to PTFE Dependence! Zeus's New PFX Platform Reinvents Catheter Materials

Packaging News-SABIC certified circular PPSU material used in Moyuum baby bottles.

Exhibition NewsSun Chemical to Showcase Advanced Plastic Pigments at Plastindia 2026

Automotive News - Lithium battery breakthrough! Musk: Tesla achieves mass production of dry electrode batteries

Macro NewsTrump again threatens Iran: If a deal is not reached, bad things may happen.

Price information - CFR Northeast Asia ethylene $700/ton, CFR Southeast Asia $685/ton

International News Highlights:

1. Say Goodbye to PTFE Dependence! Zeus's New PFX Platform Revolutionizes Catheter Materials

Zeus officially launched its PFX innovation platform, focusing on three core areas: product performance, design flexibility, and sustainability, to empower technological innovation and upgrades in the catheter industry.

As the first product launched on the PFX platform, Zeus also released the PFX Flex Sub-Lite-Wall, a new generation of catheter liners specifically designed to replace cast PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) material.

Zeus states that the PFX platform integrates a full range of non-fluorinated polymer solutions, with performance metrics perfectly aligned with the needs of R&D engineers, while opening up new possibilities for catheter design and manufacturing.

ISCC PLUS Certified Circular PPSU Material Applied to Moyuum Baby Bottles

Sokyo has announced that Moyuum, an innovative brand in high-end infant care products, has selected its circular Duradex™ polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) ECHO material for the production of its new series of baby bottles. This marks the first time in the Korean market that this material has been adopted.Certified Circular MaterialsManufacturing baby bottles exemplifies Moyuum's dual commitment to product safety and environmental responsibility.

3.Sun Chemical to Showcase Advanced Plastic Pigments at Plastindia 2026

From February 5-10, 2026, the India International Plastics Exhibition will be held in New Delhi, India. Sun Chemical will be showcasing its latest pigments and color solutions for the plastics industry at this exhibition.

At this exhibition, Sun Chemical will focus on showcasing high-end colorants specifically designed for near-infrared light management, including organic and inorganic pigments developed for solar heat management, laser welding, and LiDAR applications.

A key highlight of the exhibition is the company's newly launched Spectrasense™ Black K 0089 FK pigment, which fully meets the demanding technical application requirements across various fields. Simultaneously, Sun Chemical will showcase its full range of spin-dyeing colorants, offering comprehensive solutions for polypropylene, polyester, and polyamide fibers. This range includes products certified by OEKO-TEX® Passport, as well as new spin-dyeing specific pigment models like FASTOGEN® Pink K 4430 FP.

4.Major breakthrough in lithium batteries! Musk: Tesla achieves mass production of dry electrode batteries

Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the company has overcome a critical technological bottleneck in lithium battery manufacturing, successfully achieving mass production of dry electrode technology. This breakthrough, described by Musk as a "major advance" in lithium battery production technology, marks a crucial step forward for the electric vehicle industry in reducing manufacturing costs and improving production efficiency.

Elon Musk stated on the social media platform X that transitioning dry electrode technology from the lab to large-scale production is an "extremely difficult" task. He extended special congratulations to Tesla’s engineering, production, supply chain teams, and strategic partners, confirming that the company has resolved this long-standing technical challenge that has plagued the battery industry.

5. Polypropylene cold drink cups receive US universal recyclability certification

Polypropylene (PP) cold drink cups, commonly used for takeout cold beverages, have reached a significant milestone in the field of sustainability. Through the combined efforts of How2Recycle, NextGen Consortium, The Recycling Partnership, Starbucks, and WM, these cups have officially received "Widely Recyclable" status nationwide.

This achievement means that over 60% of U.S. households can now dispose of polypropylene cold cups through curbside or drop-off recycling programs, marking a key step toward reducing waste and advancing the circular economy.

In just four months, polypropylene cup recycling coverage has expanded to an additional 2 million households. This progress reflects the continuous growth in recycling coverage, which has seen an increase of over 10% in recent years. This milestone was achieved through unprecedented collaboration across the entire value chain, with businesses, recycling organizations, and communities working together to upgrade recycling infrastructure and promote consumer education.

"Budget-Friendly" Model Y Launches in the US with Simplified All-Wheel Drive Configuration

On February 3, Tesla launched a new all-wheel-drive (AWD) version of the Model Y in the US market, priced at $41,990 (approximately RMB 292,000). At the same time, the company adjusted its model naming system, discontinuing the "Standard" designation, and renaming the original Standard Range version as the Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) version.

It is reported that the Model YAWD is positioned between the Model Y RWD and the Premium series. This car is equipped with a dual-motor all-wheel drive system, with 0-60mph acceleration shortened to 4.6 seconds compared to the rear-wheel drive version. The EPA estimated range is 473 kilometers. It uses the same 69kWh base battery, with a slightly lower range than the RWD base version of 516 kilometers, and is priced $2,000 higher than the RWD base version.

Overseas Macro Market

【Trump threatens Iran again: Something bad could happen if no deal is reached 】

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday once again hinted at potential military action against Iran if the U.S. and Iran fail to reach an agreement on the nuclear issue. According to Xinhua News Agency and other media reports, President Trump told reporters at the White House on the 2nd that negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are underway, and he hopes to reach an agreement through negotiations.

Trump said that the U.S. is talking to Iran, "and if we can make some kind of a deal, that's great. And if we can't, it could be not good." He renewed his military threats against Iran, repeating claims that the U.S. sent a "big" fleet and "something even bigger than we have in Venezuela" to Iran.

[Japan announces successful extraction of rare earth-containing mud from waters off Minamitorishima Island, Ministry of Foreign Affairs responds]

According to Japan's Kyodo News, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) announced on the 2nd that the deep-sea drilling vessel "Chikyu" successfully mined rare-earth-containing mud from the seabed at a depth of approximately 5,600 meters in the sea off Minamitorishima Island (Ogasawara Village, Tokyo).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China and all peace-loving countries must work together to curb the ambitions of Japanese right-wing forces to advance "remilitarization."

On the security of the Russian Federation Secretary Shoigu recently stated that Russia firmly opposes Japan's accelerated "remilitarization" attempts. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on February 3 that China and Russia hold highly consistent positions on Japan-related issues. Japan's accelerated "remilitarization" threatens regional peace and stability, and the international community and regional countries are highly vigilant about this. China, together with all peace-loving countries, must work together to curb the ambitions of Japanese right-wing forces to advance "remilitarization" and jointly safeguard the fruits of victory in World War II and the hard-won world peace.

[Foreign media reports that the US will launch a critical minerals reserve plan, China responds]

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian held a regular press conference. A reporter asked, "The United States is expected to launch a critical minerals reserve program with initial funding of $12 billion. This move comes as Washington seeks to reduce its dependence on China for resources such as rare earths. What is the Foreign Ministry's comment on this?" "China's position on maintaining the stability and security of the global industrial chain for critical minerals has not changed. All parties have a responsibility to play a constructive role in this regard," Lin Jian said.

Iranian President Pezeshkian said on social media on the 3rd that he had instructed Foreign Minister Araghchi to engage in "fair and just negotiations" with the United States based on principles of dignity, prudence, and pragmatism.Indian officials: A trade deal with the U.S. addresses Washington's demands for cuts to India's high tariffs on items including automobiles. The trade deal with the U.S. covers some agricultural products.

Under the agreement, India has committed to purchasing U.S. goods including oil, defense products, electronics, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications products, and aircraft. Negotiations for a more comprehensive agreement involving more sectors will continue.

Price information:

The central parity rate of the RMB against the US dollar was set at 6.9608, up 87 pips. The central parity of the previous trading day was 6.9695, the official closing price of the previous day was 6.9513, and the previous night session closed at 6.9448.

[Upstream Raw Material USD Market Price]

CFR Northeast Asia ethylene $700/ton, CFR Southeast Asia $685/ton.

Northeast Asian propylene FOB Korea averaged $785/ton, and CFR China averaged $835/ton.

North Asia frozen cargo CIF, propane $577-579/ton; butane $597-599/ton.

China South LPG March on-arrival price, propane $613-623/ton; butane $608-618USD/tonne

Taiwan region CFR prices for propane are $577-579/ton; butane is $597-599/ton.

LLDPE USD Market Price

Film: USD 830/ton (CFR Xiamen)

Injection molding: $910/ton (CFR Xiamen)

[HDPE US Dollar Market Price]

Film: USD 910/tonne (CFR Huangpu)

Injection molding: $800/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Hollow: $7850/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Pipes: $1000/ton (CFR Huangpu)

[US Market Price for LDPE]

Film: $1,025/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Coating: USD 1240/ton (CFR Huangpu).

[PP USD Market Price]

Injection molding: 840 USD/ton (CFR Dongguan)

Copolymer: US$870/ton (CFR Nansha)

Film material: 960 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Transparent: USD 1080/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Pipes: $1130/ton (CFR Shanghai)