Overseas News: PPG Announces Global 20% Price Increase; Sika Launches High-Performance Polyamide (PA) New Product; AIP Announces Nearly $10 Billion Acquisition

International News Digest

Raw Material NewsTechnip Energies will enhance the flexibility of ethane feedstock in Vietnam.

Industrial News-PPG announced a global price increase of up to 20%, with further price hikes not ruled out in the future.

Home Furnishings News--5°C No Cracking! Sisoko's Freeze-Resistant and Hydrolysis-Resistant Plastics Achieve Metal Substitution in Sanitary Ware

Textile NewsLeica launched VintageFX, its new generation of elastic fibers, solving the denim rebound challenge and redefining the new denim standard.

Medical News - 1.27 Billion Dollars Acquired Avanos! Private Equity Scores Another Win, Medical Device M&A Boom Intensifies

Aviation NewsPetrobras selects Honeywell technology to advance sustainable aviation fuel project

Macro News- Iranian military: The Iranian Armed Forces are currently on high alert.

The following is the details of international news.：

1. Freeze-resistant down to -5°C without cracking! Shisuoke’s freeze- and hydrolysis-resistant plastic enables metal replacement in bathroom fixtures.

ShisuoKe launches Omnix® DW-4650, a new engineering plastic, enables the production of safer, more reliable, and more cost-effective bathroom fixtures. As market demand grows for modern showers and faucets, manufacturers are seeking cost-optimized metal alternatives that enhance performance. Omnix® DW-4650 meets this need precisely, offering exceptional resistance to freeze-cracking even under extremely low temperatures. This high-performance polyamide delivers outstanding freeze resistance, mechanical strength, and long-term durability. It successfully withstands 5–6 freeze-thaw cycles at -5°C, outperforming conventional plastics and exceeding customer specifications. After 1,500 hours of hydrolytic aging at 60°C, it retains excellent toughness, ensuring reliable performance throughout the product’s entire lifecycle. This grade also fulfills all critical mechanical requirements for thermostatic valve bodies—including burst pressure, assembly torque, and metal insert retention—and is certified to NSF/ANSI 61 for potable water contact.

2, Petrobras selects Honeywell technology to advance sustainable aviation fuel project

Petrobras (Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.)Petrobras is using Honeywell's Ethanol to Jet (ETJ) technology to produce sustainable aviation fuel, reinforcing Brazil's leadership in low-carbon aviation energy solutions and innovation. The Brazilian national oil company has selected Honeywell Advanced Process Technologies to support its facility in São Paulo, Brazil.Replan Refinery (REPLAN) large-scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project. Specifically, Petrobras will adopt Honeywell UOP ethanol-to-jet (ETJ) technology.Converting ethanol—a renewable and widely available feedstock—into aviation fuel. Once the project comes online as scheduled, the facilityDaily production capacity can reach 10,000 barrels of sustainable aviation fuel, becomingLatin America’s first large-scale ETJ Technology Production Project。

3, PPG announces a global price increase of up to 20%, with the possibility of further price hikes in the future.

On April 15, 2026, PPG (NYSE: PPG) announced a global price adjustment for its full line of coatings, paints, and specialty products. Amid rapidly changing global cost conditions, this action reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to ensuring a stable supply of high-performance products to its customers.In recent weeks, significant volatility and supply constraints have emerged across the global petrochemical, energy, and transportation markets due to external factors beyond the control of suppliers and manufacturers. This has led to across-the-board cost increases for raw materials, energy, logistics, and packaging in the coatings industry’s upstream supply chain. To ensure continued product supply and service to our global customers,PPG has begun implementing price increases of up to 20% across all product lines and services, based on individual customer circumstances or within the allowances of existing contracts. Certain product categories, technologies, and regions may require higher price adjustments to fully offset current cost inflation pressures. Given the ongoing evolution of market conditions, further price adjustments cannot be ruled out.PPG's global procurement, production, and logistics teams are actively leveraging the company's diversified production footprint and supplier network to reduce supply disruptions and maintain service levels.

4. Private equity firm acquires Avanos for $1.27 billion—another major move as M&A activity heats up in the medical device sector.

，Avanos Medical announced that it has agreed to be acquired by an affiliate of American Industrial Partners (AIP).AIP is a private equity firm focused on industrial sector investments. The parties agreed to complete the acquisition through a cash transaction, with an enterprise value of approximately $1.272 billion. According to the terms of the agreement, each share of common stock of Avanos will receive $25 in cash consideration. The acquisition price represents a premium of approximately 72.1% over Avanos' closing stock price on April 13, and a premium of approximately 82.8% over the company's 30-day volume-weighted average price.

5. Leica Company LaunchesVintageFX Next-Gen Elastic Fiber Overcomes Denim Rebound Challenges, Redefining the Denim Standard

As a global leader in fibers and technology solutions for the apparel industry,LYCRA Company recently announced the official launch of LYCRA® VintageFX fiber. This next-generation fiber can present the authentic appearance of vintage denim in modern clothing silhouettes, while providing the comfort, fit, and shape retention that consumers expect from elastic denim. The LYCRA® VintageFX fiber is specifically designed for denim and woven fabrics, setting a new performance benchmark that allows brands and factories to recreate the structured look inspired by vintage styles without compromising on recovery, durability, or wear comfort. This innovation responds to the industry's shift towards looser, off-the-body silhouettes, including wide-leg pants, bell-bottoms, boyfriend jeans, and mom jeans, where maintaining fit and stability, especially at the waist, hips, and crotch, still poses a significant challenge.

6. Technip Energies will enhance the flexibility of ethane feedstock in Vietnam.

Technip EnergiesTechnip Energies has been awarded a contract by Long Son Petrochemicals Company (LSP) for the Long Son Petrochemicals Expansion (LSPE) project located on Long Son Island, Vietnam. The contract covers engineering and procurement services, site technical support, and the supply of proprietary burners for the plant's cracking furnaces. The project will leverage Technip Energies' proprietary ethylene technology, converting the existing naphtha-based steam cracker to an ethane feedstock route. This includes the Ultra Selective Conversion (USC®) cracking furnace design and the Heat Recovery System (HRS®), which will enable high selectivity, higher energy efficiency, and optimized ethylene recovery.

Overseas macro market:

Iranian military: The Iranian Armed Forces are currently on high alert.

Local timeOn the 16th, Iranian Army spokesman Akraminia stated in an interview that the Chief Commander of Iran's Armed Forces has issued clear orders that any ground invasion against Iran must be firmly repelled, emphasizing, "Not a single invader must be allowed to leave alive." Akraminia also said that Iran's armed forces are currently on high alert at all times, adding, "For us, there is little difference between a ceasefire and wartime conditions."

Iran says it will fully advance post-war reconstruction refers to the US as having become Israel"Seventh Administrative District"

On Thursday local time, Iran's First Vice President Aref said during a meeting with several cabinet members that the Iranian government will fully promote post-war recovery efforts, ensuring people's lives while accelerating the compensation for various losses caused by the conflict, and promoting national reconstruction. Aref also stated that compared to US President Trump, who "lacks strategy and planning," Iran has a clear development strategy and has established short-term and long-term development plans. He also pointed out that the current White House leaders, who advocate "America First," have actually turned the United States into the "seventh district" of Israel, and the American people will inevitably be dissatisfied with the loss of national independence.

Trump says leaders of Israel and Lebanon will hold talks

U.S. President TrumpPosted on social media on the 15th, saying, "working to secure some breathing space between Israel and Lebanon," and that the leaders of the two countries will have a dialogue "tomorrow."

In the first quarter, the number of China-Europe freight train departures and cargo volume increased year-on-year.29%、22%】

According to China State Railway Group, in the first quarter of this year, railway authorities have continuously deepened domestic and international coordination and cooperation, strengthened the operational organization of China-Europe freight trains, and enhanced the quality and efficiency of cross-border logistics services. A total of 5,460 China-Europe freight trains were operated, transporting 546,000 TEUs of cargo, representing year-on-year increases of 29% and 22%, respectively. This reflects a positive trend of simultaneous growth in both volume and quality, continuously enhancing the market competitiveness of the China-Europe freight train brand and injecting new vitality into China-Europe trade and socio-economic development along the routes.

Iran's Supreme Leader's Military Advisor: Iran is ready"Preparation for a protracted war"

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency on the 15th, Mohsen Rezaei, a military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, said that Americans "fear prolonged war," and Iran is fully prepared for a "prolonged war." Rezaei said in a TV interview that Iran will not compromise on the 10 conditions it has proposed in negotiations due to the U.S. implementing a "naval blockade." Iran should learn from past negotiation experiences and draft the agreement more carefully, focusing particularly on economic issues. Rezaei said that U.S. President Trump is trying to act as the "policeman" of the Hormuz Strait. Iran will not give up its rights in the Hormuz Strait before they are fully secured.

 Iran says US blockage of the Strait of Hormuz could lead to the collapse of the ceasefire agreement.

According to RIA NovostiOn the 16th, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bahaei stated that the U.S. blockage of the Strait of Hormuz could lead to the collapse of the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the U.S. Bahaei told RIA Novosti that the U.S. blockage of the Strait of Hormuz is a provocative act that could lead to the collapse of the ceasefire agreement. The Iranian armed forces are prepared to take necessary actions.

Price Information:

Central parity rate of RMB against the US dollar6.8616, a decrease of 34 points; the previous trading day's central parity rate was 6.8582, the official closing price of the previous trading day was 6.8185, and the night session of the previous day closed at 6.8188.

Upstream Raw Material USD Market Price

On April 14, CFR Northeast Asia ethylene remained stable at USD 1,425 per ton, and CFR Southeast Asia ethylene remained stable at USD 1,475 per ton.

Northeast Asia PropyleneFOB Korea average price rose by $20/ton to $1,330/ton, while CFR China average price remained stable at $1,345/ton.

Northern Asia CIF price, Propane899-905 USD/ton; Butane 999-1005 USD/ton.

China South China frozen goodsIn May, the CIF price for propane is $986-996/ton; for butane, it is $1036-1046/ton.

CIF Price of Propane for Taiwan Region899-905 USD/ton; Butane 999-1005 USD/ton.

【LLDPE USD Market Price

Thin film$1370 per ton (CFR Huangpu)

Injection molding: Translate the above content into English, output the translation result directly, without any explanation.$1500 per ton (CFR Shanghai)

【HDPE US dollar market price

FilmUSD 1,460 per metric ton (CFR Huangpu)

Hollow$1380 per ton (CFR Dongguan)

Injection molding: Translate the above content into English, output the translation result directly, without any explanation.USD 1,420 per metric ton (CFR Yantian)

Pipe: No quotation;

【LDPE US dollar market price

Thin film1600 USD/ton (CFR Dongguan)

Coating: No quote.

【PP USD Price Market

Homopolymerization:$1,460/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Copolymerization:USD 1,700 per metric ton CFR Huangpu

Membrane material$1710 per ton (CFR Huangpu)

Transparent:USD 1,620 per metric ton (CFR Huangpu)

Pipe Materials:1720 USD/ton (CFR Shanghai).