[Overseas headlines]Five Key Points Reached in Iran-US Talks! Omecai Launches Laser Marking Masterbatch; EU Plans To Impose Anti-Subsidy Tariffs on China

News Highlights:

Raw Material News – Evonik, Selling Again!

Electronic News - Chip Shortage! Apple: Plans to Raise Prices

Additive News - OMICAI Launches Laser Marking Masterbatch for Dark Polymer Substrates

Auto News – The EU Plans to Impose Additional Anti-Subsidy Tariffs on Chinese Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles

Macroeconomic News - Iran-US Negotiations Reach 5 Key Points

价格信息-人民币兑美元中间价报6.8150，下调20点

Details of the international highlights:

1. Evonik, sell again!

June 19th,Evonik againIt announced that it has agreed to sell part of its pharmaceutical raw material production assets at its Hanau plant in Germany to contract manufacturer ProChem Group, headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands. The specific financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed, and the deal is expected to be completed on June 19, 2026.

Evonik stated that its healthcare business is streamlining its asset portfolio to focus investment and growth in its core specialties, such as advanced oral and injectable drug delivery technologies and precision biological solutions, including lipids for mRNA and gene delivery, as well as advanced cell culture components. Its state-of-the-art drug lipid production facility in Hanau (compliant with Good Manufacturing Practices) will continue to operate, producing advanced drug lipids for drug delivery technologies like RNA therapies, providing clinical and small-scale commercial quantities to align with the company's strategic focus on high-growth areas.

2. Omya Kay launches laser marking masterbatch suitable for dark polymer substrates

For plastic products requiring permanent, machine-readable identification, compounders and product development personnel can now evaluate Omnichem’s new series of laser marking masterbatches and modified specialty compounds.

According to the company, this series of products can enhance the laser marking effects of various polymer systems, allowing for high color recognition markings on dark plastic substrates, breaking through the limitations of traditional monochrome marking and enriching the color scheme for markings.

The EU plans to impose anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese plug-in hybrid vehicles.

According to Special Plastic Insight, the European Commission is planning to impose countervailing duties on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) imported from China, targeting companies including BYD, Chery, and SAIC. This move would extend its policy of tariffs on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) imported from China, which has been in place since 2024.

According to reports, three sources familiar with the matter said that the relevant preparations have been completed, and once approved by a majority of EU member states, the European Commission will be able to formally implement the new tariff measures. In response, the European Commission declined to comment on the report.

4. Chip Shortage! Apple Plans to Raise Prices

According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an exclusive interview that due to a severe shortage of memory chips and soaring prices triggered by the AI boom, price increases for Apple products have become “inevitable.”

Image source: Digital Uncle Eight

However, Cook did not provide further details on the price increases or specify which products would be affected. According to market research data, if the higher component costs are fully passed on to consumers, the cost of the next generation iPhone Pro model is expected to increase by about $270 (approximately 1,825 yuan). Apple raised the starting price of the Mac Mini last month. Morgan Stanley predicts that prices for smartphones and personal computers in the U.S. will rise by 15% this year.

5.伊美谈判达成5项要点

According to CCTV International News, on June 22 local time, the media committee of the Iranian negotiating delegation released the key content and main points of the agreements reached during the first round of U.S.-Iran talks in Geneva:

Under pressure from the Iranian delegation, the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon has been maintained since the afternoon of June 20. To consolidate this ceasefire, a monitoring mechanism called the "Conflict De-escalation Group" will be established, with Iran participating. This mechanism signifies Iran's formal entry into Lebanon's security framework. In recent months, the United States has attempted to exclude Iran from Lebanese affairs, while Israel has no position within this mechanism.

2. Regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz, a communication hotline will be established to ensure the gradual reopening of the strait, so that Iran can be contacted directly to coordinate solutions if problems arise during implementation. This arrangement is interpreted as a certain recognition of Iran’s sovereign status over the Strait of Hormuz.

3. According to the joint statement, three working groups will be established to address the nuclear issue, Iran-related sanctions, and the monitoring mechanism, and they will begin work after Article 13 of the memorandum of understanding starts to be implemented. Article 13 includes a comprehensive ceasefire (particularly on the Lebanese front), the lifting of the maritime blockade, the unfreezing of Iran’s frozen assets, and the issuance of waivers for Iranian oil and petrochemical products. Before that, Iran will not enter the final-stage negotiations.

4. During this round of negotiations, Iran and Qatar also signed a memorandum of understanding on the implementation mechanism for unfreezing Iranian assets.

During the negotiations, in accordance with Article 10 of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury has issued a 60-day sanctions waiver for Iranian oil, petrochemicals, and related products. This means that Iran can officially sell oil to its customers and receive related payments through the official mechanism of the Central Bank.

$2.43 billion, Olin acquires Huntsman

Recently, Olin announced that it will acquire Huntsman in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $2.43 billion.

If the transaction is completed, the new company will be named OlinHuntsman, with annual revenue exceeding $12 billion and expected cost synergies of more than $400 million.

Overseas macro markets:

The Iran conflict exposes the vulnerability of $124 billion in Middle Eastern remittances.Steve Geoffrey is one of about 30 million foreign workers in the Middle East; he considers himself fortunate that he can still provide support to his family in Kenya. The 38-year-old man works in Doha, the capital of Qatar. He works for a company and sends about 150,000 Kenyan shillings (around $1,159) each month to his wife and two children—nearly twice the average income in Kenya. “We can only pray and hope things get better,” Geoffrey said of the conflict, which has lasted for more than three months. During this time, many parts of the Gulf have come under attack from Iranian missiles and drones. “Going back was never something I considered—I wouldn’t even know where to start over.”

[South Korea Considers Separate Measures for Leveraged ETFs on Samsung and SK Hynix] 韩国金融监督院院长Lee Chan-jin表示，由于散户投资者对高风险产品的需求没有降温迹象，金融监管当局正在考虑对个股杠杆ETF采取单独的稳定措施。Lee在周一的新闻发布会上表示，个股杠杆ETF的副作用正在日益加剧。Lee表示，金融监督院正在调查未来资产的SpaceX IPO股票分配失败事件，旨在防止类似问题再次发生，从而保护投资者权益。

Iranian crude oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz surge as more ships pass throughAs shipping activity in the region increases and Tehran and Washington work toward a lasting peace agreement, the volume of Iranian crude openly transported through the Strait of Hormuz has risen to its highest level since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict. Vessel-tracking data show that three U.S.-sanctioned supertankers—the Elva, Virgo and Vigor—entered the strategic chokepoint early on Monday, carrying about 6 million barrels of Iranian crude. All three tankers indicated they were heading for waters near Singapore.

[Iranian Media Say Iran-U.S. Talks Have Reached Agreement on Five Key Points]Iranian media said that Iran and the United States reached five key points in their negotiations. Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported on the 22nd that the agreement reached during the first round of talks between Iran and the United States in Switzerland contains five key points.

"The minister claims that all of Lebanon is a target for Israeli attacks."Israel's National Security Minister Ben-Gvir stated in a media interview on June 21 that all of Lebanon should become a playground and target for Israel. Additionally, regarding the US-Iran negotiations, Ben-Gvir stated that the Iranians should be "bombed, bombed, and bombed again," claiming that the Americans are naive in this matter and that the US should not compromise with Iran or sign any agreements. He also asserted that he is not afraid of any condemnation.

【科威特要求买家赴波斯湾港口提货 似是霍尔木兹海峡在重启的迹象】According to the document, the state oil company Kuwait Petroleum Corporation issued a The tender notice for naphtha requires buyers to lift the cargoes from the country's ports. To reach end customers, the cargoes would need to be transported through the waterway. Traders said this was the first such sales arrangement by Kuwait in quite some time, though they did not provide further details.

Iranian Foreign Minister: “Significant progress” has been made toward ending the conflict in LebanonIranian Foreign Minister Araghchi stated on social media on the 22nd that, with the mediation of Pakistan and Qatar, "significant progress" has been made in ending the conflict in Lebanon. Iran’s "oil and petrochemical product exports have been exempted, the blockade has been lifted, some assets have been unfrozen, and a major reconstruction and development plan for Iran has been launched."

[Iran: Qatar and Pakistan to issue document on Iran-U.S. agreement]According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency on the 22nd, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei said that Qatar and Pakistan will issue a text that will be released as the agreement document reached during the 18-hour talks between Iran and the United States.

Price information:

The central parity rate of the RMB against the US dollar is reported at 6.8150, down 20 points; the previous trading day's central rate was 6.8130, the official closing price on the previous trading day was 6.7623, and the night session closing price was 6.7728.

[Upstream Raw Material USD Market Price]

On June 19, CFR Northeast Asia ethylene is steady at $870/ton, and CFR Southeast Asia is steady at $900/ton.

Northeast Asia propylene FOB Korea average price rose to $940/ton, and CFR China average price rose to $970/ton.

North Asia refrigerated cargoes CIF: propane at $602–604/ton; butane at $602–604/ton.

The July landed prices for refrigerated cargoes in South China are USD 650–660/ton for propane and USD 670–680/ton for butane.

Taiwan refrigerated cargo CIF price: propane USD 602–604/ton; butane USD 602–604/ton.

LLDPE USD Market Price

Film: USD 1,200/ton (CFR Huangpu);

[HDPE US Dollar Market Price]

Film: $1160/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Hollow: $1280/ton (CFR Yantian);

Injection molding: USD 1,250/ton (CFR Yantian);

[LDPE USD Market Price]

Film: $1350/ton (CFR Huangpu);

[PP USD Market Price]

Junjia: 1360 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Copolymer: 1370 USD/ton (CFR Nansha);

Membrane material: USD 1,560/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Transparent: USD 1,455/ton (CFR Huangpu).