[Overseas News]Sumitomo chemical to acquire prime polymer; japan’s q1 electric vehicle sales surge; global energy faces “black april”

International News Summary:

Raw Materials News-Borealis launches halogen-free flame-retardant cable sheathing compound FR6012, already mass-certified by European power grids.

Electric vehicle sales in Japan rose 80% year-on-year in Q1.

Electronics and Appliances - Vimar launches Linea series switches, using Envalior circular materials to reduce carbon footprint by over 80%

Medical News-How Artificial Intelligence Empowers 3D Printing to Revolutionize Medical Device Innovation

Macro News- IEA Executive Director: The current energy crisis has surpassed the sum of the previous three crises, and a “Black April” may be imminent.

The following is the details of international news.：

Sumitomo Chemical acquires a 20% stake in Prime Polymer.

In a timely disclosure released on December 24, 2025, titled “Notice Regarding Business Integration Agreement and Joint Venture Agreement among Sumitomo Chemical, Prime Polymer, Mitsui Chemicals, and Idemitsu Kosan, Aimed at Integrating Japan’s Polyolefin (PP and LLDPE) Businesses via a Corporate Split (Simplified Absorptive Split) by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.,” the company stated that it will proceed with a two-stage corporate split. Under this plan, Sumitomo Chemical will act as the splitting company, while Prime Polymer—a joint venture established by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. and Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.—will serve as the transferee.

As part of this arrangement, Sumitomo Chemical's polypropylene (PP) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) businesses in Japan (collectively referred to as the "Target Businesses") will be transferred to Prime Polymer. In return, Sumitomo Chemical will acquire a 20% equity stake in Prime Polymer. The two companies have also entered into a business integration agreement and a joint venture agreement to formally complete the transaction.

The company has now confirmed that to achieve integration, it has entered into a two-step first-stage absorption-type company split agreement with Prime Polymer. This agreement, referred to as the "Absorption-Type Company Split Agreement (i)," covers the initial transfer of the target business. The first stage is called the "First Stage of the Absorption-Type Company Split," and the second stage is called the "Second Stage of the Absorption-Type Company Split." Together, they constitute the overall absorption-type company split.

2.Borealis has launched the halogen-free flame-retardant cable jacketing compound FR6012, which has been certified for mass production by European power grids.

Borealis announces the official commercial launchFR6012A product forMedium to Extra High Voltage CablesnewHalogen-free flame-retardant single-layer sheathing compoundThis materialMeets ST12 flame retardant standard, and achievedIndustry-leading balance between flame retardancy and mechanical strength, helping energy sector customers meet increasingly stringent regulatory requirements in various high-security critical scenarios.

Image source: Borealis

Japan has secured naphtha supplies, alleviating market concerns over shortages.

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Kishida announced that the country has secured enough naphtha supply to meet domestic demand for at least four months, including imported sources already purchased, two months of domestic refining capacity, and two months of inventory of chemical intermediate products such as polyethylene. Kishida stated that this comprehensive supply assurance strategy ensures that Japan can meet market demand even if naphtha refining is temporarily interrupted.

She pointed out that Japan’s domestic naphtha refining volume in 2024 averaged approximately 1.1 million tons per month, while imports of naphtha from non-Middle Eastern countries have doubled to about 900,000 tons per month, thereby meeting the country’s average monthly naphtha demand of approximately 2.8 million tons last year.

Moreover, Japan is reducing its inventory of midstream chemical products, which amounts to approximately 5.6 million tons of naphtha equivalent, effectively extending the actual inventory coverage period to over six months.

Koike Akira stated that Japan is actively expanding new procurement channels for midstream chemical products globally. She emphasized that recent reports claiming Japan would be unable to secure supplies by June are inconsistent with the facts. The Prime Minister also reaffirmed that the Japanese government will continue to spare no effort in ensuring supply chain stability.

4. How AI Empowerment of 3D Printing Will Revolutionize Medical Device Innovation

The Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) South exhibition in the southern United States features a dedicated session titled “How AI and Additive Manufacturing Will Accelerate Medical Device Innovation,” exploring how forward-thinking medtech companies plan to leverage this technology convergence across the entire additive manufacturing workflow.

Discussion points include: artificial intelligence significantly enhancing the precision of 3D-printed implants, surpassing traditional "best-fit" approaches; artificial intelligence reducing surgical duration and postoperative complications; and artificial intelligence enabling truly personalized medical device design.

5.Vimar launches the Linea series switches, made with Envalior recycled materials, reducing carbon footprint by over 80%.

Based in Marostica, Italy, the multinational company Vimar SpA (specializing in sustainable electrical wiring products and smart home solutions) has recently launched the new Linea series of wiring products. This series maintains a stylish design and cutting-edge technology while further reducing environmental impact.

The installation frame of the Linea series switches is injection molded using Durethan Blue BKV60H2.0EF material, a polyamide 6 (PA6) material containing approximately 90% recycled content, supplied by Envalior.

6.Japan's Q1 electric vehicle sales surged 80% year-on-year

According to Nikkei, industry data released on April 6 showed that in the first quarter of this year (January to March), Japan's cumulative sales of electric vehicles reached 26,959 units, a year-on-year increase of 80%.

Image source: Toyota Motor Corporation

Overseas Macroeconomic Market

Iran's ambassador to Pakistan: Mediation enters "critical and sensitive" phaseIran's ambassador to Pakistan, Mojtaba Mousavi, posted on social media on the 7th, saying that Pakistan's "positive and productive mediation and good offices" to stop the war are entering a "critical and sensitive" phase.

[US threatens to attack Iranian civilian facilities, New Zealand Prime Minister: No benefit]President Trump on Thursday again threatened Iran, saying Tehran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 7 p.m. or the U.S. will destroy Iran's power plants and bridges. According to New Zealand Radio, and the Associated Press (AP), foreign reports said New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on July 7 that Trump's recent threats against Iranian civilian facilities "are not helpful."

[Sources say the Israeli military will launch strikes on Iran's railway-related facilities]On the morning of April 7th, local time, sources from the Israeli security services stated that Iran's railway system is being used to support current military operations, including the transportation of weapons and other military supplies across the country. Therefore, the Israeli military will launch strikes against Iran's railway-related facilities.

[IEA Director: Current Energy Crisis Exceeds the Combined Impact of the Previous Three; "Black April" Looms]

[US media reports that US-Iran ceasefire agreement “hope is fading”]According to The Wall Street Journal on June 6, mediators are pessimistic that Iran will "capitulate" and reopen the Strait of Hormuz before the deadline set by U.S. President Trump, and hopes for a U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement are fading.

[The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claims Haifa, Israel, has been "completely struck"]According to a statement released by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the morning of the 7th, Colonel Musavi, the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, stated that the northern Israeli city of Haifa has been "completely attacked" in the past 24 hours, with no missiles reported to have been intercepted.

Price Information:

The RMB/USD central parity rate hits a new high since April 25, 2023.The central parity rate of the RMB against the US dollar was set at 6.8854, up by 75 basis points; the previous trading day’s central parity rate was 6.8929, the previous trading day’s official closing rate was 6.8803, and the overnight session closed at 6.8859.

[Upstream raw material USD market price]

April 1st, CFR Northeast Asia ethylene at 1450 USD/ton steady, CFR Southeast Asia ethylene at 1500 USD/ton steady.

Northeast Asia propylene FOB Korea average price stabilized at USD 1,290 per metric ton, and CFR China average price stabilized at USD 1,290 per metric ton.

North Asia CFR prices: propane at USD 937–947/ton; butane at USD 1,037–1,047/ton.

For South China refrigerated cargo arriving in early April, propane is at $995-1005/ton; butane is at $1045-1055/ton.

CIF prices for LPG in Taiwan: propane at USD 937–947/ton; butane at USD 1037–1047/ton.

[LLDPE US Dollar Market Price]

Film: $1,380/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Injection molding: 1490 USD/ton (CFR Shanghai)

[HDPE USD market price]

Film: 1450 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Hollow: USD 1,380 per metric ton (CFR Dongguan)

Injection molding: USD 1,420 per ton (CFR Yantian)

Pipe: No quotation available

LDPE USD Market Price

Film: USD 1,580 per metric ton (CFR Dongguan)

Coating: No quotation.

[PP USD Market Price]

Homopolymer: USD 1,450/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Copolymer: 1700 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Film material: 1600 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Transparent: $1,650/ton (CFR Huangpu);