International News Highlights:
Raw Material News: Sumitomo Chemical Completes Acquisition of Selsco's Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) Resin Business
Additives News: Henkel Successfully Completes Acquisition of Dutch Specialty Coatings Company Stahl
Packaging News: Industry-First General Protocol for Assessing the Recyclability of Film Packaging in Japan
Medical Plastics News: $190 Billion Safety Net! Major Shift in the U.S. Medical Device Supply Chain
Construction and Building Materials News: SK Chemical Establishes Regional Circular Economy Models for Waste Banners
Auto News: EU Plans to Set Import Caps on Chinese Hybrid Vehicles to Protect Domestic Industry
Macro News: U.S. Defense Secretary Boards USS Lincoln, Criticizes Negative Media Coverage
Price Information: CFR Northeast Asia Ethylene at USD 1,150/ton, stable
1. Sumitomo Chemical completes acquisition of Seiko's liquid crystal polymer (LCP) resin business
Sumitomo Chemical, from Japan, has completed the acquisition of Syensqo’s liquid crystal polymer (LCP) pure resin business assets. By integrating Syensqo’s products and technologies through this acquisition, Sumitomo Chemical will strengthen its ability to meet emerging market demands, further expand the scale of its LCP business, and focus on applications in information and communications technology (ICT) and mobility sectors.
Henkel has successfully completed the acquisition of the Netherlands-based Stahl Group (hereinafter referred to as “Stahl”), a key player in high-performance specialty coatings for flexible materials. Following the satisfaction of all closing conditions, including obtaining the required regulatory approvals, Stahl officially became a wholly owned subsidiary of Henkel on October 1, 2026.
3. Industry-First General Protocol for Assessing the Recyclability of Thin-Film Packaging in Japan
Artience Group, through its packaging solutions subsidiaries Toyo Ink Co., Ltd. and DIC Corporation, has announced the development of the industry’s first “cross-industry protocol” to standardize testing procedures, evaluation criteria, and reporting formats for de-inking and de-lamination in flexible film packaging recycling within the Japanese market. This protocol aims to establish a unified framework that enables supply chain stakeholders—including converters, brand owners, and recyclers—to assess and compare recyclability based on shared domestic standards. By creating this common foundation, both companies seek to accelerate the circular use of flexible packaging and contribute to the realization of a circular economy.
4. $190 Billion Safety Net! Major Shift in the U.S. Medical Device Supply Chain
BD has entered into an exclusive partnership with the U.S. government, committing to invest a cumulative $19 billion in the United States over the coming years and becoming the first major medical device company to secure special tariff exemption status, thereby leveraging this multi-billion-dollar investment to secure future industry leadership.
5. SK Chemicals establishes a circular economy model for waste banners across various regions
SK Chemicals will establish a cooperative system for the circular economy of used banners. On October 6, 2026, SK Chemicals announced that, leveraging the “Used Banner Disposal and Circular Economy Building” project proposed at the Creative Solverthon held in conjunction with the “Social Value Festa” co-hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, it would form the “Used Banner Circular Resourceization Consortium” together with MOA, DAEHAN MEDIA, UPCLOTH, and the Resource Circulation Team of Seogwipo City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, and officially commence collaboration.
6. The EU plans to impose import caps on Chinese hybrid vehicles to protect its domestic industry.
The European Union is preparing safeguard measures to restrict imports of Chinese hybrid vehicles in an effort to reduce its trade deficit. Insiders revealed that the European Commission, which handles EU trade affairs, may introduce relevant restrictions following a surge in sales of Chinese-made hybrid models in Europe. Currently, Chinese hybrid vehicles account for one-quarter of total hybrid sales in Europe, while the import growth of Chinese battery electric vehicles, which are already subject to high tariffs imposed by the EU, has slowed down.
Overseas Macro Market:
U.S. Defense Secretary boards USS Lincoln, slams negative media coverage
U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth boarded the USS Lincoln on the 7th, criticizing negative media coverage of the vessel. He stated that some outlets had inaccurately portrayed the aircraft carrier as “disabled,” suffering from “low morale,” and emblematic of “mission failure.” Previously, reports had emerged that intense operational tempos against Iran and harsh living conditions aboard the USS Lincoln had led to plummeting crew morale, with multiple sailors experiencing mental breakdowns and attempting to jump overboard.
Shanghai’s online and offline consumption reached 76.24 billion yuan during the National Day holiday, highlighting the vitality of inbound tourism spending.
This year’s National Day holiday, Shanghai launched over 200 promotional consumption activities under the theme “Love Shopping in Shanghai, Celebrate National Day.” From September 30 to October 6, total online and offline consumer spending in Shanghai reached RMB 76.24 billion, a year-on-year increase of 9.9%. Of this, offline spending amounted to RMB 40.04 billion, up 15.1% year on year, while online spending totaled RMB 36.2 billion, rising 4.7% year on year. Consumer spending across the 19 monitored municipal-level commercial districts reached RMB 5.62 billion, a 14.5% year-on-year increase, with average daily foot traffic hitting 3.964 million visits, up 1.9% year on year.
Israeli strikes on multiple locations in Gaza kill three Palestinians
According to Palestinian sources, the Israeli military launched gunfire and airstrikes in multiple areas of the Gaza Strip starting early on the 7th, killing at least three Palestinians. One of them died in an Israeli drone strike on Khan Younis in southern Gaza later that day.
The U.S. military’s claim that Iran has “complete control” over the Strait of Hormuz is false.
On October 7, U.S. Central Command stated that earlier in the day, a general from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had claimed that “the Strait of Hormuz has been closed” and asserted that Iran exercised “full control” over the strait, describing these claims as false. U.S. Central Command noted that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains unimpeded, with various commercial goods and energy supplies—including 20 million barrels of crude oil—currently being transported via the waterway. The United States and its regional partners clearly maintain control over the strait.
[Iran to Respond to U.S. Proposal Through Intermediaries; Iran and Oman Finalize Security Corridor Plan for the Strait of Hormuz]
On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Baghaei stated that Iran would respond to the U.S. proposal through intermediaries, adding that Tehran had clearly outlined its conditions for ending the war. Baghaei said, “We have clearly and firmly articulated our considerations and conditions for ending the wars imposed on us across all fronts and restoring security in the Persian Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz. The necessary response to the other party’s proposal will also be conveyed through intermediaries.” He further noted that Iran and Oman had reached an agreement on safe transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz and on how to notify relevant international institutions of these routes.
BofA’s Cabana argues that the Federal Reserve faces a dilemma: either raise interest rates or face a surge in U.S. Treasury yields.
Mark Cabana of Bank of America stated that the global bond market sell-off reflects investors’ reassessment of the neutral interest rate level. Traders believe that Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh has given the market more room to test higher yields. Cabana, Co-Head of Global Rates Strategy at BofA Securities, noted that Warsh’s remark at Jackson Hole in August that he “finds it difficult to say that overall financial conditions are restrictive” has weakened the Fed guidance that had previously curbed market repricing.
Iranian senior official: Iran will never give up its right to uranium enrichment.
On the 7th local time, a senior Iranian official stated that there is a divergence between the U.S. “demands and expectations” and Iran’s requirements regarding remarks made by U.S. Vice President Vance on the 5th. Vance had asserted that Iran must “substantially” reduce its uranium enrichment capabilities to meet U.S. demands and thereby end the U.S.-Iran conflict. The Iranian official emphasized that U.S. recognition of Iran’s right to enrich uranium is a “red line” for Tehran, on which Iran will never make any concessions. However, he noted that specific details related to uranium enrichment could be discussed in the future.
Price Information:
The RMB central parity rate against the US dollar was set at 6.7367, down 16 basis points from the previous trading day’s fixing of 6.7351. The official closing rate on the previous trading day was 6.7053, and the overnight session closed at 6.7050.
Upstream Raw Material USD Market Price
On October 7, CFR Northeast Asia ethylene was stable at $1,150/ton, and CFR Southeast Asia was stable at $1,090/ton.
The average FOB Korea price for propylene in Northeast Asia remained stable at $1,215 per tonne, while the average CFR China price held steady at $1,265 per tonne.
North Asia frozen cargo October arrival price: Propane $932-934/ton; Butane $1082-1084/ton.
The CIF prices for frozen cargo in South China for October delivery are: propane at USD 992-1002 per ton and butane at USD 1062-1072 per ton.
For Taiwan, the October CIF prices for refrigerated cargo were $932–934 per ton for propane and $1,082–1,084 per ton for butane.
LLDPE USD Market Price
Film: USD 1,180/ton (CFR Huangpu)
[HDPE USD Market Price]
Film: USD 1,190/ton (CFR Yantian)
Hollow: USD 1,220/ton (CFR Dongguan);
Injection molding: USD 1,060/ton (CFR Huangpu)
LDPE USD Market Price
Film: USD 1,365/ton (CFR Huangpu)
[PP USD Market Price]
Homopolymer: USD 1,400/ton (CFR Huangpu)
Copolymer: USD 1,380/ton (CFR Nansha)
Transparent: USD 1,570/ton (CFR Huangpu)
Pipe material: USD 1,580/ton (CFR Huangpu)
