Plastic Industry Updates & Resources

【International News Digest】 Raw Materials - The new plastic is completely soluble in seawater — no micro-particles Automotive - Syensqo Unveils Bright Orange Flame-Retardant PPA for EV Safety Applications Corporate - Sulzer inaugurates biopolymer engineering and scale-up center Macro - Trump Team Considers Meeting with Iran This Week Price - USD/CNY Central Parity Rate at 7.1746, Up 43 Pips International News Details The new plastic is completely soluble in seawater — no micro-particles Japanese scientists from the The Center for Research on New Materials (RIKEN) was established a new type of plastic, is a recyclable material that dissolves in seawater, leaving no residue behind. The plastic, called alkyl SP2 has high strength, can be molded at temperatures above 120°C, and can be transformed into anything from hard shells to soft films. At the same time, unlike most biodegradable plastics, this material does not leave behind any microplastic particles. It can completely dissolve in seawater within 2-3 hours. Syensqo Unveils Bright Orange Flame-Retardant PPA for EV Safety Applications Belgian materials giant Syensqo has launched Amodel PPA HFFR-4133 Orange (OR), a flame-retardant polyphthalamide designed for electric vehicle (EV) safety applications.This advanced material features a stable, vibrant orange hue that retains brightness even after prolonged high-temperature exposure, addressing growing industry demands for safety and visibility in critical EV components like connectors and busbars. Sika launches PU adhesive for primerless auto glass replacement Sika launches Sikaflex® P2G Premium, a high-performance solution designed to complement their primerless auto glass replacement (AGR) product line. Sikaflex® P2G Premium offers a 3-hour minimum drive-away time (MDAT), optimized performance at elevated temperatures, short cut-off string, plus excellent decking and glass-slip properties. Sulzer Inaugurates Biopolymer Engineering and Scale-Up Center Sulzer Ltd. (Winterthur, Switzerland) opened its fourth location in Switzerland. The Innovation Technology Hub (InTecH) in Winterthur Töss will further enhance Sulzer’s research and development capabilities in advanced biopolymer engineering and recycling. With 3,150 m2 of laboratory and research space, this strategic investment is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainable innovation. Syensqo and Fairmat enter collaboration for carbon-fiber recycling SyensqoS.A. (Brussels, Belgium) and Fairmat S.A.S., a French company that turns carbon fiber into scalable, high-performance recycled materials, have entered into a collaboration agreement. Under this agreement, Fairmat will recycle Syensqo’s U.K. carbon fiber prepreg waste, transforming it into valuable resources for the production of new products in the sports, energy, mobility, and electronics markets.  OMAN：Government support fuels growth of plastics processing sector Two years ago, Oman and its state-owned petrochemicals group OQ launched the Labayn incentive programme – a scheme designed to encourage plastics processing companies to set up operations in the Gulf state. The initiative appears to be bearing fruit. So far, 18 companies from Europe, the Middle East, India, China, and Southeast Asia have committed to investing, said Abdul Rahman Al-Tamtami, OQ’s vice-president of global marketing, speaking at a press conference in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.   Overseas Macro Market Updates   BOJ Maintains Rates, Plans Slower Bond Tapering Next Year: The Bank of Japan kept its benchmark interest rate at 0.5% and will slow bond purchase tapering to ¥200 billion per quarter from next fiscal year (current pace: ¥400 billion/month), in line with market expectations. Trump Team Considers This Week’s Iran Talks: Axios reported the White House is weighing talks with Iran this week on the nuclear deal and Israel ceasefire. A U.S. official confirmed discussions on the proposal, with the U.S. reportedly using potential supply of bunker-busting bombs to Israel as a bargaining chip. Lagarde Urges Action to Boost Euro’s Global Role: ECB President Christine Lagarde called for decisive steps to strengthen the euro’s role in the international monetary system, emphasizing Europe must solidify geopolitical credibility, economic resilience, and institutional frameworks.   Price Information   【USD/CNY Central Parity Rate】The central parity rate of the Chinese yuan against the U.S. dollar was set at 7.1746, up 43 pips from the previous trading day. The previous day's central parity rate was 7.1789, the official closing price was 7.1802, and the overnight closing price was 7.1818. 【Raw Materials - USD Market Prices】 Ethylene (Asia): CFR Northeast Asia: $800/ton, up $10/ton CFR Southeast Asia: $850/ton Propylene (Northeast Asia): FOB Korea average: $710/ton, down $10/ton CFR China average: $760/ton North Asia LPG (CIF): Propane: $581-583/ton Butane: $551-553/ton South China LPG (July arrival, CIF): Propane: $593-603/ton Butane: $540-550/ton Taiwan LPG (CIF): Propane: $581-583/ton Butane: $551-553/ton 【LLDPE - USD Market Prices (CFR)】 Film grade: $915/ton (Huangpu) Injection molding grade: $960/ton (Dongguan) 【HDPE - USD Market Prices (CFR)】 Film grade: $910-915/ton (Huangpu), up $10/ton Hollow grade: $860/ton (Huangpu), down $5/ton 【LDPE - USD Market Prices (CFR)】 Film grade: $1,035/ton (Xiamen) 【PP - USD Market Prices (CFR)】 Homopolymer: $885-935/ton (Huangpu) Copolymer: $955-1,040/ton (Huangpu) Film grade: $1,025-1,090/ton (Huangpu) Transparent grade: $1,065/ton (Huangpu), down $20/ton Pipe grade: $1,160/ton (Shanghai)

Two years ago, Oman and its state-owned petrochemicals group OQ launched the Labayn incentive programme – a scheme designed to encourage plastics processing companies to set up operations in the Gulf state. The initiative appears to be bearing fruit. So far, 18 companies from Europe, the Middle East, India, China, and Southeast Asia have committed to investing, said Abdul Rahman Al-Tamtami, OQ’s vice-president of global marketing, speaking at a press conference in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Abdul Rahman Al-Tamtami, vice-president global marketing of OQ (Photo: PIE) These pledges represent direct investments totalling USD 160 mn (EUR 140 mn) and are expected to create over 600 jobs. Four companies, which together have invested USD 54 mn, are reportedly set to begin production during the current year. Al-Tamtami did not disclose specific company names, nor did he provide details on the size of the government’s subsidy fund. However, he noted that OQ is currently in talks with firms from Brazil, with further discussions planned with plastics processors from other countries across the Americas.By encouraging the establishment of plastics processing firms, Oman aims to address a major imbalance. Although the country, home to nearly 5 mn people, has considerable polymer production capacity – around 1.2 mn t/y of polyethylene, 1 mn t/y of PP, and 1 mn t/y of PET, according to Polyglobe database – it still imports almost all of its finished plastic products. At present, around 90% of the nation’s petrochemical output is exported, Al-Tamtami reported.OQ sees its role in attracting foreign investment as that of a facilitator and enabler. “We act as a kind of concierge,” Al-Tamtami explained. Oman is looking to capitalise on its low energy and feedstock costs, as well as its strategic geographic location – positioned between Europe and Africa on one side and Asia on the other. The country, which refers to itself as “the Switzerland of Arabia”, also considers its high levels of safety and order a key advantage. In addition, Al-Tamtami noted that OQ has expanded its polypropylene offering to include grades suitable for the production of thin-walled food packaging.

International News Highlights  Raw Materials News - Westlake Epoxy and Alpha Recyclage Composites to advance composites recycling Automotive News - Toray and partners launch end-of-life aircraft recycling program for composites Machanery News- North American plastics machinery shipments drop again in Q1 2025 Packaging News - Topstar's Whole-Plant Solution Helps North American Customers Achieve Intelligent Upgrades Medical News - Boston Scientific Sells Its Veteran Campus Macro News - Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Denies "Iran Transmitting Messages to Israel via Cyprus" Price Information - Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia $790/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $850/ton   Details of International News  Toray and partners launch end-of-life aircraft recycling program for compositesToray Advanced Composites, Daher, and TARMAC Aerosave announce the launch of a joint End-of-Life Aerospace Recycling Program for commercial aircraft production.Working with Airbus, this collaborative initiative will focus on advancing recycling technology practices in aerospace manufacturing by recovering and reusing end-of-life secondary structural components made from continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites. Westlake Epoxy and Alpha Recyclage Composites to advance composites recycling Corporation announced that Westlake Epoxy will collaborate with Alpha Recyclage Composites to support them in scaling up the recycling capacity for carbon fiber composite materials.This collaboration will provide support to Westlake’s composite customers in their development of improved circular options for both production (scrap or off spec composite materials that otherwise become waste) and end-of-life waste. The recovery of the carbon fibers from composite materials for reuse in new or emerging applications aims to establish a more sustainable alternative to traditional disposal methods such as landfilling and incineration. Borouge Signs $531 Million Logistics Agreement to Enhance Petrochemical Export Capability Petrochemical giant Borouge Plc recently announced the signing of a 15-year, AED 1.95 billion (approximately $531 million) cooperation agreement with ADNOC L&S, a logistics services company under Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), to optimize maritime logistics processes and enhance the UAE's petrochemical export capability. Boston Scientific Sells Its Veteran Campus Recently, according to the official website of CBRE, the world's largest commercial real estate services and investment company, Boston Scientific has put its 24-acre campus in Minnetonka, Minnesota, up for sale. Records show that Boston Scientific has been operating at 10700 Bren Road West since the 1980s and redeveloped it in 2013. The site now features 225,900 square feet (approximately 21,000 square meters) of modern laboratory, office, and warehousing space, long serving as the core function for its medical device manufacturing. Braskem, America's Largest PP Producer, Makes a Major Strategic Shift Considering a challenging environment for the petrochemical industry and a prolonged downcycle-exacerbated by high energy costs and reduced economic activity in Europe-Braskem is redirecting all resources toward its core business: the production of chemicals and plastics. As such, Braskem is divesting from the mechanical recycling joint venture, Upsyde, with Terra Circular, which focused on producing road plates and pallets from post-consumer plastic. Japan's Ethylene Equipment Utilization Rate Remains Depressed for 33 Consecutive Months Recently, statistics released by the Japan Petrochemical Industry Association showed that in April, the domestic ethylene equipment utilization rate in Japan was 78.6%, remaining below the 90% target for measuring prosperity for 33 consecutive months. The prolonged downturn in ethylene equipment utilization shows no sign of improvement. The association stated that in view of changing market conditions and reduced utilization rates due to increased regional production, each enterprise is taking measures to advance structural reforms. In terms of adjusting ethylene production equipment, in addition to the announced plan to close two units in Chiba Prefecture and one unit in Kanagawa Prefecture, in April, three companies in western Japan—Mitsui Chemicals, Asahi Kasei, and Mitsubishi Chemical—merged their two units into one. This will reduce Japan's domestic ethylene production capacity by 30% to approximately 4.4 million tons. Regarding this restructuring, Koji Kudo, President of the Petrochemical Industry Association, said it is unlikely that two or three units will be closed consecutively. Closing these units is meaningless unless environmental protection measures are taken simultaneously. Xycle breaks ground on chemical recycling plant in Rotterdam Xycle has broken ground on its first commercial-scale pyrolysis plant, located in the port of Rotterdam.Dow, ING, Invest-NL, Polestar Capital and Vopak are among the investors in the Dutch chemical recycler . North American plastics machinery shipments drop again in Q1 2025 Economy Market Forecast Plastics Processes Shipments of extruders were strong and increased by double digits year-over-year, but injection molding machine shipments were down. Shipments of injection molding and extrusion machinery in North America fell to US$252.1 million in the first quarter of 2025 from the previous quarter, which is a decline of 17.5 per cent from the last quarter of last year and 4.6 per cent decline year-over-year, according to a new report from the Plastics Industry Association’s Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES). Topstar's Whole-Plant Solution Helps North American Customers Achieve Intelligent Upgrades In a newly built Mexican food packaging factory in North Carolina, the intelligent manufacturing solution provided by Topstar is operating efficiently. Industrial robots flexibly adjust their operation trajectories according to process requirements, and advanced machine vision technology acts as an "electronic eye," significantly improving the production efficiency and product qualification rate of food boxes. This in-depth cooperation originated from the customer's procurement need for single machines. Topstar verified the performance of the solution through on-site testing at the Mexican factory. According to customer feedback, while maintaining high efficiency, the equipment reduces comprehensive costs by approximately one-third compared to similar European and American products. The excellent performance has prompted the customer to continue purchasing, gradually replacing the original equipment.   Overseas Macro Market Information  Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Denies "Iran Transmitting Messages to Israel via Cyprus" The Tehran Times reported that the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied the news that "Iran transmitted messages to Israel via Cyprus." "Iran has not transmitted any messages to Israel through any country, and this claim is completely false," the spokesperson said. Israeli Refinery in Haifa Hit by Iranian Missile, Causing Fire Local time on the 16th, a refinery in Haifa, northern Israel, was hit by an Iranian missile, triggering a large fire. Japanese Finance Minister: Discussing with Markets Is Key to Ensuring Stable Government Bond Trading Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said that before the much-watched meeting between the Ministry of Finance and investors, discussing with market participants is a key factor in ensuring stable government bond trading. He stated that as the Bank of Japan reduces its bond purchases, the government needs to find other investors to fill the gap. The Japanese Ministry of Finance plans to hold a meeting with primary dealers on June 20, three days after the Bank of Japan's policy decision, where the central bank is widely expected to slow the pace of reducing bond purchases at this meeting. U.S. Diplomatic Facilities in Israel Damaged in Iranian Attack Local time on the 16th, U.S. diplomatic facilities in Tel Aviv, Israel, were damaged in the missile attack launched by Iran in the early morning of the same day. In the early morning of the day, Iran launched a new round of missile attacks on Israel, and air raid sirens sounded in multiple areas of Israel. South Korea to Submit Supplementary Budget Plan to the Cabinet on June 19 According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea will submit a supplementary budget plan to the cabinet on June 19. Morgan Stanley Raises Q3 Brent Crude Price Forecast Morgan Stanley: Due to the Israel-Iran conflict, the Q3 Brent crude oil price forecast is raised to $67.50 per barrel.   Price Information  RMB to U.S. Dollar Central Parity RateThe central parity rate of RMB against the U.S. dollar was reported at 7.1789, down 17 points; the previous trading day's central parity rate was 7.1772, the previous trading day's official closing price was 7.1813, and the overnight trading close was 7.1853. Upstream Raw Material US Dollar Market Prices Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia $790/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $850/ton. Propylene Northeast Asia: FOB South Korea average $720/ton, up $10/ton; CFR China average $760/ton, up $10/ton. North Asia frozen cargo CIF price: Propane $575-577/ton; Butane $543.5-545.5/ton. South China frozen cargo July upper CIF price: Propane $587-597/ton; Butane $534-544/ton. Taiwan region frozen cargo CIF price: Propane $575-577/ton; Butane $543.5-545.5/ton. LLDPE US Dollar Market Prices Film: $915/ton (CFR Huangpu), up $10/ton; Injection molding: $960/ton (CFR Dongguan); HDPE US Dollar Market Prices Film: $900-915/ton (CFR Huangpu), up $5/ton; Hollow: $865/ton (CFR Huangpu); LDPE US Dollar Market Prices Film: $1,035/ton (CFR Xiamen); PP US Dollar Market Prices Homopolymer: $885-935/ton (CFR Huangpu); Copolymer: $955-1,040/ton (CFR Huangpu); Film material: $1,025-1,090/ton (CFR Huangpu); Transparent: $1,085/ton (CFR Huangpu); Pipe material: $1,160/ton (CFR Shanghai).

In an environment characterized by economic uncertainty, Erema was able to maintain its market position. Revenue fell by 13 per cent in the past financial year. Nevertheless, the company considers itself to be on a stable course. Headquarters of the Erema Group in Ansfelden, Austria: it is from here that solutions for plastics recycling are developed and marketed worldwide.© Erema Economic and geopolitical uncertainty around the world continues to present challenges for the plastics recycling industry. Despite a decline in sales of around 13 per cent compared to the previous year, the Erema Group has maintained stability and set an important strategic course for the future based on its strong market presence. The technologies and solutions offered by the companies in the Eerema Group mean that it covers the entire value chain of mechanical plastics recycling. „By combining our expertise, together we ensure our customers remain competitive in a dynamic market environment,“ says CEO Manfred Hackl. This is a success factor that is reflected in the broad range of products, as well as in high system availability and the quality of service provided by the Group. Despite the current challenges, there is still plenty of potential for growth, as Manfred Hackl explains: „More and more high-quality products are made from recycled pellets. The plastics industry has recognised that the proportion of recycled materials used in new products needs to continue to increase in order to achieve our shared goal of circularity.“ CEO Hackl Calls for a Reliable Framework While the European market has been subdued, the Group experienced positive momentum in North America and Asia. Regulations such as the PPWR (packaging and packaging waste directive), which has come into force in the EU, also give a positive outlook in Europe, provided that competitiveness can increase again. “This would mean launching initiatives that combine ecological and economic interests and strengthen the industrial base, like the Clean Industrial Deal in the EU. Just as important are global developments that create reliable framework conditions, such as the rollout of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and legal requirements for mandatory use of recycled materials in new products,“ says Manfred Hackl. Recently, Erema has noticed a reluctance to invest in the polyolefins post-consumer segment. On the other hand, demand for recycling solutions for production waste and bottle-to-bottle applications has remained stable. There is a clear trend towards implementing larger-scale machines in both the PET and PO sectors. The increasing industrialisation of these sectors requires solutions that are cost-effective and can be easily adapted to meet demand. Erema supports its customers during this transformation process and continues to set standards in the industry. The joint venture with Lindner Washtech has proven to be an important development in providing efficient overall solutions along the value chain. Successful Thinking Outside the Box The ongoing growth of plastics recycling can be seen not only in the established segments, but also increasingly in newer application segments involving chemical recycling, and fibre & textile recycling. Erema started up its first large-scale extruders for chemical recycling during the 2024/25 financial year. The development of fibre-to-fibre recycling also looks very promising. Initial pilot projects have already been carried out, and an reference system will start operation later this year. The commissioning of a recycling machine for post-consumer textiles by Pure Loop, one of the Group‘s subsidiaries, at Salvation Army Trading Company in spring 2024, marks a new milestone. The project won the Plastics Industry Award. It Doesn‘t Work Without Recycling At the end of the 2024/25 financial year, the Erema Group completed a comprehensive investment programme spanning the last five years with a volume of EUR 145 million. “Part of this programme involved the Group‘s own component manufacturing company 3S, which has been optimised with an investment of EUR 23 million to significantly increase the in-house production share of key components and strengthen the Group‘s supply chain over the long term,“ reports Horst Wolfsgruber, CFO of the EREMA Group. Manfred Hackl, CEO of the Erema Group (right) and Horst Wolfsgruber, CTO of the Erema Group.© Erema The company has also strengthened its international sales structure by appointing Christoph Wöss as Global Sales Director in April. In future, the strategic focus will be aligned even more closely with the specifics of regional demand as well as market and customer requirements. Despite challenging market conditions, the Erema Group still focuses on the ongoing development of efficient recycling solutions in all sectors. “We are convinced that the demand for recycling technologies will keep increasing in the coming years,“ says Manfred Hackl. “The framework conditions remain challenging, but the usage of plastic will continue to increase. The only way to meet this demand responsibly is with reliable recycling.“

International News Guide: Raw Materials News - OQ to showcase 17 new PP and PP grades at K 2025 Automotive News - HARMAN Launches New Display Featuring Samsung Neo QLED Technology Medical News - ThermoFab Rebrands to Better Reflect Breadth of Plastic Processing Services Packaging News - Industrial Packaging Manufacturer MAUSER Commissions IBC Recycling Plant at BASF Site in Spain Macro News - Israel Launches Airstrike on Iran's Capital; Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei: Israel Will Face Severe Punishment Price Information - Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia $790/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $850/ton   Details of International News: 1.OQ to showcase 17 new PP and PP grades at K 2025 OQ, Oman’s global energy group, has introduced 17 new application-focused polymer grades over the past year. This reinforces its commitment to delivering transformative material solutions tailored to address global megatrends such as food preservation, water security, and energy saving. These grades will be showcased for the first time in Europe at K 2025, one of the leading plastics and rubber trade fairs in Düsseldorf. 2.HARMAN Launches New Display Featuring Samsung Neo QLED Technology Today, consumers expect vehicles to deliver premium visual experiences on par with high-end TVs and personal devices. However, the harsh requirements of automotive environments have made it difficult to achieve such display performance. According to foreign media, HARMAN, a leader in automotive technology and a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., has launched a new display product that brings true consumer-grade tech viewing experiences to vehicles. The display will be installed in the new Tata Harrier.ev model, marking the first in-vehicle integration of Samsung's proprietary Neo QLED technology, which has been exclusively licensed to HARMAN and optimized by HARMAN for automotive applications. 3.ThermoFab Rebrands to Better Reflect Breadth of Plastic Processing Services ThermoFab offers its customers in the medical device space and within other regulated industries far more than thermoforming services, and it has now rebranded to reflect that reality. It’s new name is Innova Engineered Plastics, explicitly calling out its “innovation, expanded capabilities, and focused vision as the full-service enclosure provider of choice for startups to Fortune 500 companies,” said Innova. 4.Industrial Packaging Manufacturer MAUSER Commissions IBC Recycling Plant at BASF Site in Spain Industrial packaging manufacturer commissions IBC recycling plant at BASF site in Spain Industrial packaging manufacturer Mauser Packaging Solutions has commissioned a new plant for processing intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) in Tarragona, Spain. Located on the premises of BASF (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com), the facility reconditions used IBCs and extracts recyclates from containers that are no longer fit for reuse.  5.BASF Starts New World-Class Hexamethylenediamine Plant in France, Boosting Capacity to 260,000 Tons Recently, BASF announced that its new world-class HMD  plant in Charleroi, France, has been successfully started up. The plant, which began construction in 2022, is of great significance for the successful start-up, boosting BASF's annual HMD production capacity to 260,000 tons. 6.American Axle to Supply Core Components for Volkswagen Group's Scout American powertrain system supplier American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. announced that it has signed an important cooperation agreement with Scout Motors, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, to supply front axle electric drive units and e-Beam rear axles for the upcoming new electric Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck. Image source: American Axle It is reported that the two highly anticipated new Scout models will adopt a body-on-frame chassis architecture, standard with a pure electric powertrain system, and optional gasoline engines to enhance comprehensive range. Currently, Scout Motors has simultaneously opened the reservation channel for the two new Traveler and Terra models, and the first mass-produced models are expected to roll off the production line in 2027. 7. Borealis triples net income in 2024 Stefan Doboczky, Borealis CEO since July 2024, explains how the company's net income reached €566 million in 2024, with operating profit improved by €300 million 8. Farm plastic waste recycling options a 'leap forward for sustainability' Recycling agricultural bags could divert up to 45,000 tonnes of single-use soft plastics from landfill each year. Many farmers either burn or bury plastic to avoid significant landfill costs.   Overseas Macro Market Information: [Israel Launches Airstrike on Iran's Capital] Local time in the early morning of the 13th, the Israeli Air Force launched airstrikes on dozens of targets related to Iran's nuclear program and other military facilities within Iran, naming the operation "Strength of the Lion." [Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei: Israel Will Face Severe Punishment] Local time on the 13th, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Israel would face severe punishment. Khamenei also confirmed the killing of several Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. [Japanese Trade Negotiator: Refuses to Reach Partial Agreement with the US] Japanese Trade Negotiator Akaike Ryohei said on Friday that Japan will insist on demanding a reassessment of US tariffs and will not accept a partial agreement. "Reaching a partial agreement is impossible. Our goal is to reach a comprehensive agreement that satisfies both Japan and the US," Akaike told reporters before departing for Washington. Akaike Ryohei is preparing for the sixth round of tariff negotiations with the US to conduct final negotiations before the meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and US President Trump on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Canada. [US ITC Officially Launches 337 Investigation into Ink Cartridges and Components] On June 12, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) voted to launch a 337 investigation into certain ink cartridges and components I and II. A number of Chinese enterprises, including Dongguan Ocbestjet Digital Technology Co., Ltd. in Guangdong, China, are listed as defendants. The US International Trade Commission will determine the end date of the investigation within 45 days of filing. [Iran's Ministry of Energy: Hydropower Infrastructure and Oil Refining and Storage Facilities Undamaged] Local time on the 13th, Iran's Ministry of Energy and the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company said that Iran's hydropower infrastructure, oil refining facilities, and storage facilities had not been damaged. Hydropower services continued to operate normally, and the operation of oil facilities and fuel supply continued stably throughout the country without interruption.   Price Information: [RMB to USD Central Parity Rate] The central parity rate of RMB against the US dollar was reported at 7.1772, up 31 points; the previous trading day's central parity rate was 7.1803, the previous trading day's official closing price was 7.1824, and the overnight closing price was 7.1715. [Raw Material US Dollar Market Prices] Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia $790/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $850/ton. Propylene Northeast Asia: FOB Korea average $710/ton; CFR China average $750/ton. North Asia frozen cargo CIF price, propane $545-547/ton; butane $515-517/ton. South China frozen cargo July arrival CIF price, propane $591-601/ton; butane $531-541/ton. Taiwan region frozen cargo CIF price, propane $545-547/ton; butane $515-517/ton.   [LLDPE US Dollar Market Prices] Film: $895/ton (CFR Huangpu); Injection molding: $970/ton (CFR Dongguan);   [HDPE US Dollar Market Prices] Film: $900-920/ton (CFR Huangpu); Hollow: $865-870/ton (CFR Huangpu);   [LDPE US Dollar Market Prices] Film: $1,025-1,035/ton (CFR Huangpu);   [PP US Dollar Market Prices] Homopolymer: $885-935/ton (CFR Huangpu); Copolymer: $955-1,040/ton (CFR Huangpu); Film material: $1,025-1,090/ton (CFR Huangpu); Transparent: $1,085/ton (CFR Huangpu); Pipe material: $1,160/ton (CFR Shanghai).