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Overseas News: Sony Builds Recycled Plastic Supply Chain! Celanese Completes Business Spin-off! Evonik Meets Earnings Expectations

Plastmatch 2026-02-06 21:12:02

Global News Roundup

Raw Materials: Shell is considering closing some plants; chemical business losses widened to 1.1 billion USD in 2025.

Automotive: Celanese completed its spin-off.

Electronics: Sony partnered with 13 chemical and material companies to build the world's first renewable plastic supply chain for the electronics sector.

Aviation: Toray developed a new CFRP bonding technology to help lightweight aircraft fuselages.

Medical: Evonik met its 2025 earnings forecast; new dividend policy to return 40%-60% of net income to shareholders.

Macro: US and Iranian delegations started nuclear talks in the Omani capital.

1. Shell Considers Closing Some Plants; 2025 Chemical Business Losses Widened to 1.12 Billion USD

On February 5, 2026, Shell CEO Wael Sawan stated during the analyst call for the company's 2025 Q4 earnings report that the company's loss-making chemical business "has not met expectations", and Shell is "considering phasing out some production units based on circumstances". He said, "We will assess the cash cost of each unit and make choices based on the stage of the cycle we are in. All options are on the table." Sawan mentioned that Shell had spun off its loss-making refining and chemical assets in Singapore earlier in 2025 and stated that the company is "working to restructure its chemical business portfolio to unlock more value". In fiscal 2025, Shell's chemical business reported an adjusted loss of 1.12 billion USD, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of adjusted losses, with Q4 losses reaching 589 million USD.

2. Evonik Meets 2025 Earnings Expectations; New Dividend Policy to Return 40%-60% of Net Income to Shareholders

Evonik Industries AG recently announced that based on preliminary 2025 financial data and the 2026 outlook, its Executive Board reviewed the dividend policy on February 5. As stated in the previous interim announcement, Evonik plans to distribute 40% to 60% of adjusted net income to shareholders annually starting from fiscal 2026 to enhance financial flexibility. As a transition, the company intends to pay a dividend of 1.00 EUR per share for fiscal 2025, currently equivalent to a dividend yield of approximately 7%. Previously, the annual dividend was 1.17 EUR per share.

3. Breaking News: Celanese Completes Spin-off

Global specialty materials giant Celanese Corporation announced on February 2 the successful completion of the spin-off of its Micromax® business to Element Solutions Inc. (NYSE: ESI), receiving approximately 500 million USD in cash, which will be fully invested in the company's deleveraging strategy to further strengthen its balance sheet and optimize its financial structure.

4. Toray Develops New CFRP Bonding Technology to Help Lightweight Aircraft Fuselages

Japan's Toray Industries, Inc. successfully completed tests on a bonding technology for carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) aviation simulation structures, with bonding efficiency nearly tripling that of traditional processes. Thermoset CFRP is widely used in primary load-bearing structures of aircraft due to its excellent material properties and mature practical application experience. In recent years, with the growing demand for miniaturized components and complex special-shaped structures in the aviation sector, thermoplastic CFRP has seen expanding applications thanks to its high production efficiency and flexible design capabilities.

5. Sony Partners with 13 Chemical & Material Companies to Build World's First Renewable Plastic Supply Chain for Electronics

On February 6, it was learned that Sony Corporation, together with 13 leading chemical and material companies including Mitsubishi Corporation, Adeka Corporation, Chimie, ENEOS Holdings, Formosa Chemicals and Fibre Corporation, Hanwha Impact, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Neste Oyj, Qingdao Haier New Material R&D Co., Ltd., SK Geo Centric Co., Ltd., Toray Industries, Inc., and Toray Advanced Materials Korea Inc., jointly announced the establishment of the world's first global renewable plastic supply chain dedicated to Sony's high-performance audio-visual products.

6. Nouryon Launches 100% Bio-based Degradable Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) to Empower Green Upgrade of Laundry Detergents

Global specialty chemicals leader Nouryon introduced a major innovative product for the cleaning industry — FinnFix® PB MAX, the industry's first carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) made entirely from renewable carbon sources. This groundbreaking product has a renewable carbon index of 100%, providing laundry detergent manufacturers with an efficient solution that reduces environmental impact while continuously meeting consumers' high expectations for cleaning performance.

7. Tanker Loads 150,000 Barrels of Gasoline in Venezuela; Possible Resumption of Fuel Supply to Cuba

The Netherlands reported on the 5th citing shipping data that an oil tanker that has delivered Venezuelan fuel to Cuba multiple times since April 2025 loaded 150,000 barrels of gasoline in Venezuela this week, potentially indicating Venezuela is preparing to resume fuel supply to Cuba under US "supervision". According to Reuters, the tanker was last detected in Venezuelan waters by tanker monitoring websites on the 2nd. However, it remains unclear whether the tanker has left Venezuela and what its final destination is. As of December 2025, Venezuela has been Cuba's largest oil supplier for 25 consecutive years. On December 16, 2025, US President Trump ordered a "complete and total blockade" on all sanctioned oil tankers entering and exiting Venezuela.

8. France Records a Record Net Number of Factory Closures in 2025

French consulting firm Trendeo released statistics on the 5th showing that the number of factory closures in France far exceeded new openings in 2025, with a full-year net of -63. The agency regularly publishes quarterly net figures for new factory openings and closures in France. Data showed that after reaching an all-time high between 2021 and 2022, this indicator continued to weaken, turning negative at the end of 2024 and further dropping to -63 in 2025.

Overseas Macro Market News

US and Iranian Delegations Launch Nuclear Talks in Omani Capital

Delegations from the United States and Iran kicked off nuclear talks in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on the local time of the 6th. This marks the first round of nuclear negotiations between the two countries since the US air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025.

UK Media: US Government to Fund Pro-MAGA Think Tanks in Europe

As reported by the UK's Financial Times on the 6th, the US Department of State will provide funding to think tanks and charitable organizations across Europe that align with the philosophy of the "Make America Great Again (MAGA)" movement. The aim is to promote the policy perspectives of the US Trump administration and challenge European policies and regulations deemed by the US to threaten "freedom of speech".

Venezuelan Tanker May Resume Fuel Deliveries to Cuba Under US "Supervision"

Citing shipping data on February 5, Reuters reported that an oil tanker that has delivered Venezuelan fuel to Cuba multiple times since April 2025 loaded 150,000 barrels of gasoline in Venezuela this week. This may indicate that Venezuela is preparing to resume fuel supplies to Cuba under US "supervision". According to Reuters, the tanker was last detected in Venezuelan waters by tanker monitoring websites on the 2nd. However, it remains unclear whether the tanker has left Venezuela and what its final destination is. As of December 2025, Venezuela has been Cuba's largest oil supplier for 25 consecutive years. On December 16, 2025, US President Donald Trump ordered a "complete and total blockade" on all sanctioned oil tankers entering and exiting Venezuela.

France Records a Record Net Number of Factory Closures in 2025

Statistics released on the 5th by French consulting firm Trendeo show that the number of factory closures in France far outpaced new openings in 2025, resulting in a full-year net figure of -63. The agency regularly publishes quarterly net figures for new factory openings and closures in France. Data indicates that after hitting an all-time high between 2021 and 2022, this indicator has continued to weaken, turning negative at the end of 2024 and further dropping to -63 in 2025.

Blackstone Finalizes 5 Billion AUD Loan Agreement to Support Australian Startup's AI Data Center Expansion

Private credit giant Blackstone Group is finalizing a loan of over 5 billion Australian dollars to support the data center expansion of Australian startup Firmus. This is the latest development in digital infrastructure financing related to the recent AI boom, with the deal potentially announced as early as next week.

UAE Reaffirms Supportive Environment for Russia-Ukraine-US Talks

A new round of two-day talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States concluded in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on the 5th. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement the same day, stating that the UAE will continue to provide a supportive environment for advancing a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and back all efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive political settlement.

Israeli PM Vows "Heavy Blow" to Iran if Attacked

As reported by Israel's Channel 12 TV on the 5th, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that day that Israel is prepared to deliver a "heavy blow" to Iran if attacked, with a scale "far exceeding" the "12-Day War" in June last year. The report said Netanyahu made the remarks about Iran during a closed-door meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, adding that Israel has coordinated with the US at the "highest possible level and most closely", but acknowledged uncertainty about the final decision to be made by US President Donald Trump. Separately, Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth reported the same day that the US has asked Israel to "avoid unilateral military action" during US-Iran talks.

Price Information

CNY/USD central parity rate: 6.9590, down 20 pips; previous day: 6.9570; official close at 16:30 previous day: 6.9408; night session close previous night: 6.9363.

Upstream Raw Materials USD Market Prices

Ethylene: CFR Northeast Asia 695 USD/ton (-5 USD/ton); CFR Southeast Asia 680 USD/ton (stable).

Propylene: FOB Korea (North Asia) average 790 USD/ton (stable); CFR China average 835 USD/ton (stable).

LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)

North Asia (CIF, refrigerated cargo): Propane 568-570 USD/ton; Butane 588-590 USD/ton.

South China, China (CIF, refrigerated cargo, first half of March): Propane 599-609 USD/ton; Butane 594-604 USD/ton.

Taiwan region (CIF, refrigerated cargo): Propane 568-570 USD/ton; Butane 588-590 USD/ton.

LLDPE USD Market Prices

Film: 830 USD/ton (CFR Xiamen); Injection Molding: 910 USD/ton (CFR Xiamen).

HDPE USD Market Prices

Film: 910 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Injection Molding: 800 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Blow Molding: 850 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Pipe: 1,000 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu).

LDPE USD Market Prices

Film: 1,035 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Coating: 1,240 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu).

PP USD Market Prices

Injection Molding: 830 USD/ton (CFR Dongguan); Copolymer: 890 USD/ton (CFR Nansha); Film Grade: 980 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Transparent Grade: 1,075 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); Pipe: 1,130 USD/ton (CFR Shanghai).

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Overseas News: Sony Builds Recycled Plastic Supply Chain! Celanese Completes Business Spin-off! Evonik Meets Earnings Expectations

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