【Overseas Highlights】LG Chem Launches Engineering Plastics for Thermal Management in Electric Vehicles! Amcor's Industrial Container with 50% Post-Consumer Recycled Content Receives Certification

International News Digest:

-Environmental groups criticize Unilever’s plastic recycling targets for failing to address the root problem.；

Automotive NewsLG Chem to Launch at the 2026 International Battery ExhibitionElectric Vehicle Thermal Runaway Prevention Engineering Plastics；

-Amcor contains50% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Industrial Containers Receive UN Certification；

Medical NewsPlastic Ingenuity Acquires Spezi-Pack to Enter the European Market and Strengthen Its Position in Medical Packaging；

Macro News- U.S. media: U.S. energy industry executives urge the government to end military operations against Iran as soon as possible.

Price InformationThe central parity rate of the RMB against the US dollar was set at 6.9007, down by 48 pips from the previous day.

Here are the details of the international news:

Amcor's industrial container containing 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material receives UN certification.

Regenerative materials are increasingly being applied in more demanding packaging sectors, including hazardous cargo containers. Amcor's latest product includesIndustrial containers made with 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material receiving UN certification is a testament to this trend.

This certification confirms that such containers comply with the United Nations’ stringent performance standards for the safe storage and transportation of hazardous materials.

UN-certified packaging is designed to prevent leakage and contact, thereby protecting personnel, property, and the environment. Amcor’s range of certified containers is suitable for solid and powdered hazardous goods across industries including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, and automotive. Certified containers help manufacturers achieve their sustainability goals.

2. Environmental organizations criticize Unilever’s plastic recycling targets for failing to address the root problem.

Greenpeace, an international environmental organization, recently issued a statement criticizing Unilever.The plastic recycling targets proposed in the 2025 Sustainability Report fail to fundamentally address the problem of plastic pollution. Although Unilever has announced that it has achieved its goal of using 25% post-consumer recycled plastic, Greenpeace argues that this progress is insignificant compared to its massive use of plastic packaging and does not address the core issue of the proliferation of single-use flexible packaging.

Graham, the global plastics campaign lead at Greenpeace USA office

3. LG Chem launched flame-retardant engineering plastics for thermal runaway prevention at the 2026 International Battery Exhibition.

LG Chem is participating in South Korea's largest battery exhibition—InterBattery 2026, held from March 11 to 13 at COEX in Seoul. At the event, LG Chem unveiled an integrated battery safety solution designed to delay and prevent thermal runaway.

As electric vehicles (Electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS) are rapidly gaining popularity in daily life and industrial applications, and battery safety has become a key factor affecting market trust, surpassing the importance of technical performance itself.

For global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)OEMs’ increasingly stringent thermal propagation control regulations have made thermal runaway suppression a mandatory requirement in modern battery design.

4. Plastic Ingenuity Acquires Spezi-Pack to Enter Europe, Strengthening Medical Packaging

One of North America's largest custom thermoforming companies Plastic Ingenuity has expanded its business into Europe by acquiring Spezi-Pack, a long-established thermoforming company located near Dresden, Germany. This expansion allows Plastic Ingenuity to provide manufacturing services for medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging locally in Europe, enhancing the operational efficiency of the entire value chain.

Dan Kuehn, President and CEO of Plastic Ingenuity, said: "With our production bases now in both North America and Europe, we are better positioned to support localized production, enhance supply chain resilience, and meet the evolving needs of our global healthcare customers."

5, Indorama and its partners will build the largest recycled PET plant in Nigeria

On March 12, Indorama announced externally that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Nigeria’s most renowned brewing company and Genesis Power & Energy Solutions Limited to construct a recycled PET plant in Lagos. With an annual capacity of 45,000 metric tons of food-grade recycled PET resin, this facility will rank among the largest in Africa. The plant is scheduled to commence operations in the first half of 2027. The project’s launch aims to meet regulatory requirements for recycled content, reduce plastic waste, create jobs, and generate local value through improved collection systems.

The project aligns with Nigeria's National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, which aims toBy 2030, all plastic packaging will be recyclable, biodegradable, compostable, or reusable. As Nigeria's commercial hub, Lagos has a strategic foundation for developing recycling infrastructure to serve both domestic and international demands.

Overseas Macro Market:

Tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, prompting several energy companies, including TotalEnergies and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, to halt or reduce production. Affected by the U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran and the ongoing disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, several major energy companies operating in the Middle East have recently announced production halts or reductions. French energy giant TotalEnergiesOn March 12, the company issued a statement on its official website stating that, due to the protracted Middle East conflict, it has suspended or is suspending part of its offshore oil and gas production in Qatar, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is expected to impact 15% of its global oil and gas output. However, onshore oil production in the UAE exported via Fujairah Port—bypassing the Strait of Hormuz—remains unaffected.

[U.S. media: Energy industry executives urge government to end military action against Iran as soon as possible] CNNOn the 12th, it was reported that several American energy industry executives urged the government to end military operations against Iran as soon as possible. The report cited multiple sources as saying that over the past few days, U.S. military officials have been in communication with energy industry representatives. The energy industry executives urged the government to end the military operations against Iran at an early date and requested escort services from the U.S. Navy.

Israeli military says it carried out airstrikes on Tehran, Shiraz, and other locations in Iran. Strike multiple infrastructure sites Reporters learned that, local timeOn the 13th, the Israel Defense Forces issued a statement saying that in the past day, the Israeli Air Force, with the support of the intelligence department, carried out multiple rounds of airstrikes on the Iranian capital Tehran and the southern cities of Shiraz and the western city of Ahvaz, targeting multiple infrastructure sites.

Concerns over regional conflicts loom over the market. US Treasury panic gauge rises to nine-month high U.S. Treasury volatility surged to a nine-month high, with escalating tensions in Iran heightening inflation concerns and upending traders' expectations for the Federal Reserve's policy path. Often referred to as the bond marketThe "fear gauge" ICE BofA Volatility Index climbed to its highest level since June, with high oil prices exacerbating inflation concerns, eroding the real yield of U.S. Treasuries, and dampening their safe-haven appeal.

[Brazil: Duty-Free Diesel Imports, Tax on Crude Oil Exports] Brazilian governmentOn the 12th, Brazil announced the elimination of import and sales taxes on diesel fuel and imposed a 12% export tax on crude oil to mitigate spillover risks stemming from the situation in the Middle East. On the same day, President Lula signed a presidential decree reducing the import and sales tax rates on diesel to zero and providing subsidies to diesel producers and importers. Chief of Staff of the Presidency Rui Costa stated that, amid soaring international oil prices, the government had to take measures to encourage crude oil producers to keep their crude within Brazil for domestic refineries, preventing them from selling a higher proportion of crude on the international market and thereby affecting the capacity utilization of existing refineries.

IDF claims to have carried out airstrikes on more than a dozen targets in central and western Iran within a day200 target(s) Local TimeOn the morning of the 13th, the Israel Defense Forces issued a statement saying that in the past day, the Israeli Air Force had dispatched dozens of fighter jets to carry out 20 large-scale airstrikes on western and central Iran, hitting over 200 Iranian targets, including ballistic missile launchers, air defense systems, and weapons production facilities. The IDF stated that since the beginning of the strikes against Iran at the end of February, the Israeli Air Force has conducted hundreds of rounds of airstrikes on Iranian targets, to weaken the missile attack capability against Israeli territory.

US Treasury Secretary Says No Immediate Concerns Over Spending to Counter Iran Local timeOn March 12, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent told Sky News UK in an interview that according to recently released data, the United States has already spent $11 billion in less than two weeks on efforts to counter Iran. Although "$11 billion is indeed a huge sum," the U.S. fiscal budget has built-in buffers, and at this stage, there is no need for concern.

[The Russian Foreign Ministry: U.S. and Israeli military operations have undermined stability across the entire Middle East.] Spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, ZarakhovaAt the regular press briefing on the 12th, it was stated that U.S.-Israeli military operations have destabilized the entire Middle East and will bring catastrophic consequences to the region. These actions must be halted immediately, and a diplomatic solution must be pursued. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry's website, Zakharova said that Iran is facing an extremely severe humanitarian situation, and multiple Arab countries are also experiencing humanitarian disasters. The U.S.-Israeli military operations have resulted in the deaths of over a thousand Iranian civilians, with civilian targets such as the elementary school for girls in Minab, Iran, subjected to brutal bombing. Civilian infrastructure and historical sites within Iran have also been attacked and damaged.

South Korea considers issuing energy subsidy coupons and increasing nuclear and coal power generation. The South Korean government said on Friday that it would consider providing additional energy subsidy coupons to vulnerable households if global fuel price increases caused by the Middle East crisis drive up electricity costs. If oil prices remain high and liquefied natural gas supply is disrupted, South Korea is prepared to increase nuclear and coal power generation.

Russia claims Ukraine's attack on gas transmission facilitiesRashly recklessLocal TimeOn the 12th, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Ukraine had launched a drone attack on the compressor station supplying gas to the “TurkStream” natural gas pipeline. Russia accused Ukraine of attempting to cut off Russia’s natural gas supply to European consumers through this strike. On the same day, Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary to the Russian President, stated that Ukraine’s attack on the compressor station was “reckless and brazen.” He also accused Ukraine and European governments of obstructing the peace process and described attempts to continue pressuring Russia as “utterly absurd.”

Price Information:

The central parity rate of the RMB against the US dollar is reported as6.9007, down 48 basis points from the previous day. The central parity rate of the previous trading day was 6.8959, the onshore RMB closing price at 16:30 was 6.8752, and the night session closing price was 6.8833.

Upstream Raw Material USD Market Price

On March 12, CFR Northeast Asia was $1,000/ton, up $30/ton; CFR Southeast Asia was $970/ton, up $30/ton.

Northeast Asian PropyleneFOB Korea average price fell by $30/ton to $1,070/ton, while CFR China average price dropped by $65/ton to $1,070/ton.

North Asia propane CFR price$846–852/ton; butane $846–852/ton.

Frozen Cargo in South ChinaApril CIF price, propane $913-923/ton; butane $908-918/ton.

CIF Price of Propane to Taiwan Region846-852 USD/ton; Butane 846-852 USD/ton.

【LLDPE US Dollar Market Price

Film1300 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Injection molding: Translate the above content into English, and output the translation result directly without any explanation.USD 1,450 per metric ton (CFR Dongguan)

【HDPE US dollar market price

Film: No quotation;

Hollow1250 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Injection Molding: No quotation;

Pipe material: no quotation;

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Film:$1,450/ton (CFR Dongguan)

Coating: No quotation.

【PP USD market price]

HomopolymerizationUSD 1,245 per metric ton (CFR Huangpu)

Co-polymerization:USD 1,275 per metric ton CFR Huangpu

Film material: No quotation;

Transparent:USD 1,440 per metric ton CFR Huangpu

Piping:$1480 per ton (CFR Shanghai)