Global Bioplastics Capacity to Double! FORVIA to Sell Auto Interior Business; Huntsman MDI Plant Unexpected Shutdown

International News Guide

Raw Material News - 2025 Bioplastics Market Booms! Global Capacity to Double to 4.69 Million Tons in 5 Years; Europe Bets on Three Key Materials

Automotive News - Critical for Auto and PV Sectors! EU Allegedly to Set 70% "Made in Europe" Target for Key Goods

Packaging News - Processing 5.5 Billion PET Bottles Annually! PetStar Expands to Build World's Largest PET Recycling Plant

Other News - Holcim UK Acquires Thames to Expand Construction Waste Recycling Business

Macroeconomic News - CCPIT Organizes Chinese Entrepreneur Delegation to Visit Canada

Price Information - Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia USD 740/ton; CFR Southeast Asia USD 720/ton

Details of International News

1.Processing 5.5 Billion PET Bottles Annually! PetStar Expands to Build World's Largest PET Recycling Plant!

According to Plastmatch on December 3, Bepensa, Coca-Cola Mexico, and other bottlers within the Coca-Cola system have taken an important step toward sustainability by expanding PetStar, the world's largest food-grade PET recycling plant.

Located in Toluca, Mexico, the plant expansion involves a $143 million investment, increasing the annual recycling capacity of food-grade rPET resin from 50,000 tons to 86,000 tons. This achievement is equivalent to processing over 123,000 tons of PET materials annually—approximately 5.5 billion plastic bottles—which will be reintegrated into the Coca-Cola system's value chain.

2.Aster Partners with Hitachi to Double Ethylene Export Capacity

Aster, a Southeast Asian energy and chemical solutions provider, announced an agreement with Hitachi Asia Ltd. to acquire advanced compressor solutions, aiming to double the ethylene export capacity of its facility on Aster Bukom Island.

This investment enhances Aster's ability to meet the growing regional and global demand for ethylene, a key petrochemical building block used in plastics, textiles, and specialty chemicals. Under the agreement, Hitachi plans to deliver two new compressor units in January 2027 through its plant operated by Hitachi Industrial Products Co., Ltd. in Japan.

3.Norway's New National Plastic Packaging Waste Sorting Facility Områ Officially Opens

Norway recently celebrated the official opening of Områ, a new national plastic packaging waste sorting facility, marking a significant step forward in the country's plastic recycling efforts.

Previously, for certain plastic wastes, incineration was almost the only option, but Områ has changed this situation. Owned jointly by TOMRA (65% stake) and Plastretur (35% stake), the facility boasts a strong processing capacity of up to 90,000 tons of plastic per year, converting plastic packaging waste into homogeneous polymer fractions for subsequent recycling and reuse.

4.Holcim UK Acquires Thames to Expand Construction Waste Recycling Business

Building materials manufacturer Holcim UK has completed the acquisition of Thames Materials, a construction waste management company operating in the London area.

Holcim UK stated that this acquisition is a "core pillar" of its overall growth strategy in the circular economy, focusing on increasing waste recycling and recycled aggregate production capacity, while strengthening the company's layout in the construction and demolition waste (CDM) market.

5.2025 Bioplastics Market Booms! Global Capacity to Double to 4.69 Million Tons in 5 Years; Europe Bets on Three Key Materials

The global bioplastics capacity reached 2.31 million tons in 2025 and is expected to grow to 4.69 million tons by 2030. On December 2, 2025, the European Bioplastics Association (EUBP) released the "2025 Bioplastics Market Development Update Report," with new data confirming the continuous expansion of global bio-based plastics capacity and its increasingly prominent role in the transition to a sustainable, circular economy.

According to the report, global bio-based plastics capacity is projected to double from 2.31 million tons in 2025 to approximately 4.69 million tons by 2030. Currently, bio-based plastics account for about 0.5% of the world's total annual plastic production of 431 million tons. This growth reflects both rising market demand and continuous innovation in material performance and application areas.

6.FORVIA Issues Statement on Asset Divestment Process, to Sell Part of Auto Interior Business

Recently, in response to media speculation about FORVIA's business sales, FORVIA released an official statement clarifying its current asset divestment process.

In the statement, FORVIA said: "As previously announced, FORVIA has been conducting a comprehensive strategic review of its business portfolio. Based on the results of this review, the Group has initiated the sales process for certain businesses, including related assets in the automotive interior business segment."

7.Brazil Revokes Provisional Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese Nylon Filaments

On December 2, the Executive Management Committee of Brazil's Foreign Trade Chamber (CAMEX) issued Resolution No. 820 of 2025, deciding to revoke the provisional anti-dumping duties on nylon filaments originating from or imported from Chinese producer/exporter Yiwu Huading Nylon Co., Ltd. for reasons of domestic public interest. The resolution takes effect on the date of issuance.

8.Huntsman Updates Q4 2025 Outlook Due to Unexpected Shutdown of Dutch MDI Plant

On December 1, 2025, Huntsman announced on its official website that an unplanned shutdown at its polyurethane plant in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, is expected to have a negative impact of approximately $10 million on adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2025.

The larger of the two MDI production lines at the plant has been affected and is expected to resume production in mid-December. Due to this shutdown, Huntsman's management currently expects Q4 2025 adjusted EBITDA to be at the lower end of the $25 million to $50 million range announced on November 6, 2025. Excluding the impact of this shutdown, the quarter's performance would be in line with previous expectations.

9.Critical for Auto and PV Sectors! EU Allegedly to Set 70% "Made in Europe" Target for Key Goods

It is reported that the EU is currently considering setting a "Made in Europe" target of up to 70% for certain goods, including automobiles. This move aims to prioritize the procurement of local goods to reduce the EU's dependence on other countries in clean technology and some heavy industry sectors.

According to officials familiar with the draft bill, which will be submitted on December 10, the policy may force EU companies to purchase more expensive European components, imposing additional costs of over €10 billion per year on them.

Overseas Macroeconomic Market

【Sanae Takaichi's Latest Statement: "Taiwan     Is an Inalienable Part of the Territory of the People's Republic of China"; Japan's Position of "Understanding and Respecting" This Remains "Unchanged"】

According to China News Service @Guoshi Express, Taiwan's United Daily News quoted Japan's Mainichi Shimbun as reporting that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated at the plenary session of the House of Councillors on the same day that Japan's position of "understanding and respecting" the People's Republic of China's declaration in the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Communiqué that "Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China" remains "unchanged."

【CCPIT Organizes Chinese Entrepreneur Delegation to Visit Canada】

According to Xinhua News Agency, at the invitation of the Canada-China Business Council, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) organized a Chinese entrepreneur delegation to visit Toronto and Ottawa, Canada, from November 30 to December 2, to strengthen communication and exchanges between the business communities of the two countries and deepen practical cooperation in trade, investment and other fields.

【Indian Data Center Operator Sify Infinit Spaces Bets on AI Boom but Remains Vigilant of Bubble】

The CEO of Sify Infinit Spaces SIFY.NS, which is set to become India's first listed data center operator, stated that the company believes artificial intelligence has driven demand for computing power but is controlling future investments to avoid overexposure to a potential bubble.

The rapid development of AI technology, which requires massive computing power, has stimulated unprecedented growth in data centers worldwide, including in India. However, Sharad Agarwal, CEO of Sify Infinit, said at the end of November that the company will continue to expand "responsibly and in a planned manner" to ensure alignment with sustainable demand.

【Zhejiang: Plans to Support Over 100 Key Exhibitions and Organize No Less Than 2,000 Delegations to Expand Overseas Markets】

Zhejiang's "Several Policies for Promoting High-Quality Economic Development (2026 Edition) (Draft for Comments)" was released for public consultation. It mentions launching a "stable growth, market expansion, and structure optimization" package.

The province plans to support over 100 key exhibitions and organize no less than 2,000 delegations to expand overseas markets. It will promote the integrated development of "live streaming + platforms + cross-border e-commerce," providing a maximum subsidy of 3 million yuan for eligible individual parks. Support will also be given to the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade, further expanding the scale of domestic trade insurance.

【Cambodia to Trial Visa-Free Policy for Chinese Citizens Next Year】

The Cambodian government issued an official document on December 2 stating that it will implement a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens from June 15 to October 15, 2026.

The document said the Cambodian government agrees to trial the visa-free policy for Chinese citizens traveling from China to Cambodia, allowing a stay of 14 days. During the 4-month trial period, Chinese citizens do not need to apply for a visa or pay any fees, and can enter Cambodia multiple times by simply filling out an electronic arrival card.

Price Information

The CNY/USD central parity rate was reported at 7.0754, an increase of 40 pips; the central parity rate of the previous trading day was 7.0794, the official closing price of the previous trading day was 7.0712, and the night session closing price of the previous day was 7.0725.

【Upstream Raw Material USD Market Prices】

Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia USD 740/ton; CFR Southeast Asia USD 720/ton.

Propylene Northeast Asia: FOB South Korea average USD 695/ton; CFR China average USD 745/ton.

North Asia refrigerated cargo CIF price: Propane USD 556-558/ton; Butane USD 601-603/ton.

South China (China) refrigerated cargo CIF price for early December: Propane USD 574-584/ton; Butane USD 554-564/ton.

Taiwan region refrigerated cargo CIF price: Propane USD 556-558/ton; Butane USD 601-603/ton.

【LLDPE USD Market Prices】

Film: USD 835-850/ton (CFR Huangpu);

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

【HDPE USD Market Prices】

Film: USD 880-895/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Injection Molding: USD 815-820/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Blow Molding (Hollow): USD 820-840/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipes: USD 1000/ton (CFR Huangpu).

【LDPE USD Market Prices】

Film: USD 990-1000/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Coating: USD 1190/ton (CFR Huangpu).

【PP USD Market Prices】

Injection Molding: USD 795/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Copolymer: USD 830-860/ton (CFR Nansha);

Film Grade: USD 965/ton (CFR Huangpu);

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

Pipes: USD 1100/ton (CFR Shanghai).