German plastic machinery orders fell 21% in 2024,Chanel Is Getting Into the Recycling Business

International News Digest:

• Raw Materials News - Four Key TiO₂ Metrics Determine Masterbatch Quality​​;
• Packaging News -AMCOR Fully recyclable wet wipe packaging developed in collaboration with Fedrigoni;
• Equipment News - German plastic machinery orders fell 21% in 2024 ;
• Macro News - OPEC+ Quota Hikes Yet to Translate into Significant Output Growth​​;
• Price Information - The central parity rate of the RMB against the US dollar is 7.1855, down 10 points.
  
  

International News Details:​​

1. German plastic machinery orders fell 21% in 2024

Orders for German plastics and rubber machinery fell by another 21% in 2024, adjusted for prices changes, according to official figures from trade group VDMA.

2. AMCOR Fully recyclable wet wipe packaging developed in collaboration with Fedrigoni

Packaging manufacturer Amcor has teamed up with speciality paper manufacturer Fedrigoni to launch a fully recycle-ready flexible packaging solution for wet wipes.The product pairs Amcor’s AmPrima Plus flow wrap with Fedrigoni’s patented semi-rigid label to create a mono-material pack that can be recycled in polyethylene recycling streams across Europe. 

3. ​​Chanel Is Getting Into the Recycling Business

The French luxury giant is launching a new circularity focused venture with investments in waste management and recycling companies, much as it has bought up top-end ateliers in a decades-long push to future-proof its supply chain.

4. ​​Four Key TiO₂ Metrics Determine Masterbatch Quality​​
Titanium dioxide (TiO₂), a critical raw material for masterbatch production, directly impacts end-product performance. Industry experts highlight four core quality indicators: whiteness, water-soluble content, dispersibility, and opacity. Whiteness, influenced by hydrolysis control, particle size, and calcination temperature, is paramount for high-end white masterbatches. While some manufacturers use fluorescent brighteners for visual enhancement, their effects are short-lived compared to intrinsic TiO₂ quality.

5. ​​Master Bond Launches UV-Curable Adhesive for Diverse Substrates​​

Master Bond launches Master Bond UV15-7HP, a low viscosity, easy to apply, one-part, UV curable adhesive system. Optimal adhesion is achieved in bond line thicknesses of 0.001-0.003 inch.
The adhesive can cure rapidly with a minimum intensity of 20-40 milliwatts/cm² using a UV light source emitting at a wavelength of 320-365 nm. The material can also be cured in sections up to 0.125 inch thick under appropriate conditions, making it suitable for bonding, sealing, coating, and encapsulation.

6. ​​Masterbatch manufacturer obtains French CSTB certification

Spanish masterbatch specialist Delta Tecnic said it has developed a pigment additive, which recently obtained certification from the French organisation providing research, consultancy, testing, and certification services in the construction industry CSTB.

7. Avantium signs PEF offtake agreement with Hoogesteger, a fresh juice producer 

Avantium signs PEF offtake agreement with Hoogesteger, a fresh juice producerAvantium N.V. has signed a conditional offtake agreement with Hoogesteger, a producer of fresh cold-pressed juices in the Netherlands. Hoogesteger will purchase the 100% plant-based, recyclable polymer PEF (polyetehylene furanoate) from Avantium’s FDCA Flagship Plant for the use in bottles for its fresh juices made from ultra-fresh vegetables, fruit and fresh herbs.

Global Macro Market Updates:​​

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Morgan Stanley: OPEC+ Quota Hikes Yet to Translate into Significant Output Growth​​
Morgan Stanley noted that while OPEC+ may be raising oil production quotas to reactivate idle capacity, actual output growth remains negligible. "Daily quotas increased by ~1 million barrels from March to June, yet tangible production growth is elusive," analysts including Martijn Rats stated. Notably, Saudi Arabia’s output shows no marked rise.

​​U.S. Travel Ban on 12 Nations Takes Effect​​
A Trump-era travel ban targeting citizens from over a dozen African and Middle Eastern countries officially commenced at 12 AM ET on Monday, reigniting debates reminiscent of the 2017 policy’s legal turmoil.

​​South Korean Egg Prices Hit 4-Year High​​
Per the Korea Rural Economic Institute, the average retail price for 30 large eggs reached KRW 7,026 in May—the highest since July 2021. Prices are projected to climb further through August due to supply constraints.

​​Syria to Rejoin SWIFT System​​
Syria’s new central bank governor announced the country will fully reintegrate into the SWIFT payment network within weeks, marking a pivotal step toward economic reentry after 14 years of war and sanctions.

​​ Price Information:

​​
​​ [RMB to USD Central Parity Rate]

The central parity rate of RMB against the US dollar was 7.1855, down 10 points; the previous trading day's central parity rate was 7.1845, the previous trading day's official closing rate was 7.1847, and the previous night's closing rate was 7.1947.

[US Dollar Market Prices of Upstream Raw Materials]

Ethylene in Asia: CFR Northeast Asia 780 USD/ton; CFR Southeast Asia 850 USD/ton.

Propylene in Northeast Asia: FOB South Korea average 745 USD/ton; CFR China average 775 USD/ton.

North Asia frozen cargo CIF prices: propane 536-538 USD/ton; butane 505-507 USD/ton.

South China frozen cargo CIF prices for July: propane 601-611 USD/ton; butane 541-551 USD/ton. Taiwan region frozen cargo CIF prices: propane 536-538 USD/ton; butane 505-507 USD/ton.

[US Dollar Market Prices of LLDPE]

Film: 870 USD/ton (CFR Qingdao);

Injection molding: 970 USD/ton (CFR Dongguan).

[US Dollar Market Prices of HDPE]

Film: 900-920 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Hollow: 865-870 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu).

[US Dollar Market Prices of LDPE]

Film: 1025-1035 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu).

[US Dollar Market Prices of PP]

Homopolymer: 890-935 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Copolymer: 955-1060 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Film grade: 1025-1090 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Transparent: 1085 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipe: 1160 USD/ton (CFR Shanghai).