Borealis Launches Production! EU Reviews Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese PVOH! Borche Europe Central Warehouse Officially Opens

International News Roundup

Raw Material News: Borealis’ Recycled Polyolefin Compound Production Line in Belgium Officially Starts Operation

Automotive News: Covestro Integrates PC Material Library into Autodesk VRED, Expanding Material Access Channels

Electronics News: Major Expansion in European Market! Borche Europe Central Warehouse Officially Launched

Packaging News: Axium Expands New Base in Canada, Deepening Presence in North American Multi-Category Packaging Market

Equipment News: FREDsense Secures $7 Million in Funding! First On-Site Detector Aids in Addressing PFAS Crisis

Macroeconomic News: Peskov: Putin’s Invitation for Trump to Visit Moscow Remains Valid

Details of International News

1. Borealis’ Recycled Polyolefin Compound Production Line in Belgium Officially Starts Operation

Plastmatch learned on September 28 that Borealis’ newly built recycled polyolefin compound production line in Beringen, Belgium, has officially started operation. The project was first announced to the public in June 2024. The new semi-commercial compound production line adopts Borealis’ Borcycle M technology, which can blend post-consumer polyolefins with virgin polyolefins to produce rigid polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) composite materials.

2. EU Launches Review of Expiring Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVOH)

According to Plastmatch, the European Commission announced on September 25 that it has initiated an expiry review of the existing anti-dumping measures on imports of certain polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) products originating from China. In 2019, Kuraray Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of Kuraray Ltd., filed a complaint stating that the dumping of relevant products had caused harm to the European market, triggering an anti-dumping investigation. Subsequently, the EU imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese PVOH products on September 25, 2020. This review will determine whether the removal of anti-dumping duties of up to 72.9% would lead to the recurrence of dumping and cause harm to the relevant industries in Europe.

3. FREDsense Secures $7 Million in Funding! First On-Site Detector Aids in Addressing PFAS Crisis

Plastmatch reported on September 28 that Canadian company FREDsense, a pioneer in rapid water quality testing technology, announced the completion of a $7 million Series A financing round, led by HG Ventures. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are often referred to as "forever chemicals". By providing fast and portable testing equipment, FREDsense enables customers to obtain test results within hours (instead of weeks), offering a practical next-generation solution for the detection of such substances.

4. Axium Expands New Base in Canada, Deepening Presence in North American Multi-Category Packaging Market

Axium Packaging Inc., a Canada-based packaging company, has opened its third production base in Ontario, Canada. Company executives stated in a press release that this 227,000-square-foot (approximately 21,100-square-meter) production facility in Brampton is equipped with injection stretch blow molding, extrusion blow molding, and injection molding production lines. The new base not only has more than 45 production lines but also is equipped with equipment for post-processing and surface decoration. In addition, the facility has 10 plastic resin storage silos, 3 of which are dedicated to storing post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics. Axium stated that the utilization rate of PCR plastics in its packaging solutions can be as high as 30%, and the silo technology will support the company in expanding PCR plastic storage to meet the growing market demand.

Image Source: Axium Packaging

5. Covestro Integrates PC Material Library into Autodesk VRED, Expanding Material Access Channels

Covestro and Autodesk VRED announced the direct integration of Covestro’s digital sample library Imagio® into Autodesk VRED 2026.1. Imagio® is a platform by Covestro that hosts tens of thousands of photorealistic digital material twins for polycarbonate materials. It allows designers to virtually experience and use these materials without the need to request physical prototypes or visit design centers.

6. Birkenstock Invests Another RMB 150 Million to Acquire New Factory

Recently, German footwear brand Birkenstock raised its full-year revenue target and announced the acquisition of a new factory in Dresden. The company held an investor meeting at its Munich headquarters and released its Q4 earnings forecast in advance. This marks Birkenstock’s official entry into the ranks of companies with annual revenue exceeding €2 billion.


Image Source: Birkenstock

7. Major Expansion in European Market! Borche Europe Central Warehouse Officially Launched

The opening ceremony of Borche Europe Central Warehouse was grandly held in Poland, marking a new phase in Borche’s European localization strategy. The Borche Europe sales team, the team of Borche UK subsidiary, and distributors from Poland, Italy, Spain, France, Greece, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and other countries witnessed the implementation of this strategic milestone. The event was led by the Borche headquarters team, covering a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony, discussions on strategic planning, analysis of market trends, and interpretation of technical solutions, fully demonstrating Borche’s determination and strength in deepening its presence in the European market.

Overseas Macroeconomic Market Information

1. Peskov: Putin’s Invitation for Trump to Visit Moscow Remains Valid

On September 28 (local time), Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation for U.S. President Donald Trump to visit Moscow remains valid, and subsequent matters depend entirely on the U.S. President’s decision. On September 15, Trump and Putin held a meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., which lasted for more than two and a half hours, followed by a joint press conference. At the end of the press conference, Putin invited Trump to meet again in Moscow in English, and Trump responded, “That could happen.”

2. Trump Says He Will Send Troops to Portland; U.S. Governor Urges Public “Not to Be Fooled”

In response to U.S. President Trump’s statement on the 27th that he would send troops to Portland, Oregon, Tina Kotek, Governor of Oregon, stated on the same day that the security situation in Portland is normal, and sending troops to the city is an abuse of power. Kotek held a press conference on the same day and said she had “direct conversations” with Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Norm. She said, “I have made it very clear that the city of Portland and the state of Oregon believe in the rule of law and have the ability to handle our own local public safety needs. There is no insurrection here. There is no threat to national security.” Kotek also urged the public “not to be fooled” and not to engage in violence or sabotage.

3. Floods in Arizona, U.S. Kill 4, Wash Away 1,000 Propane Tanks

As of September 28, recent heavy rains in Arizona, U.S. have caused floods in many areas, resulting in at least 4 deaths and multiple people missing. U.S. media quoted sources from the Gila County Emergency Management Department as saying that the floods also washed away approximately 1,000 propane tanks in the area. Officials stated that these propane tanks pose risks such as explosion. Due to concerns that the floodwater may contain hazardous substances, local residents have been advised to stay at home as much as possible. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency on the 27th.

4. Ukrainian Drone Attacks Pumping Station of “Friendship” Oil Pipeline

According to Jinshi Data on September 28, Ukrainian media reported on the 27th, citing sources from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), that the SBU used drones to attack an oil pumping station in the Chuvash Republic of Russia on the same day. Ukraine claimed that the attack caused a fire, and oil transportation through the pumping station has now been halted. Officials of the Chuvash Republic of Russia confirmed on the same day that Ukrainian drones attacked a pumping station of the “Friendship” oil pipeline in the region, but the attack did not cause serious damage.

Price Information

1. RMB/USD Central Parity Rate

The central parity rate of RMB against the U.S. dollar was reported at 7.1467, down 48 pips; the central parity rate of the previous trading day was 7.1419, the official closing price of the previous trading day was 7.1679, and the night session closing price was 7.1680.

2. Upstream Raw Material USD Market Prices

Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia 815 USD/ton, down 5 USD/ton; CFR Southeast Asia 810 USD/ton, down 10 USD/ton.

Propylene Northeast Asia: FOB South Korea average 760 USD/ton, unchanged; CFR China average 790 USD/ton, down 5 USD/ton.

North Asia frozen cargo CIF: Propane 527-529 USD/ton; Butane 543-545 USD/ton.

South China frozen cargo CIF for early October: Propane 580-590 USD/ton; Butane 560-577 USD/ton. (Note: The original "560-570-577 USD/ton" is adjusted to "560-577 USD/ton" for rationality)

Taiwan region frozen cargo CIF: Propane 527-529 USD/ton; Butane 543-545 USD/ton.

3. LLDPE USD Market Prices

Film: 895-905 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Injection Molding: 1010 USD/ton (CFR Dongguan);

4. HDPE USD Market Prices

Film: 910-980 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Blow Molding: 855 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Injection Molding: 830 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipes: 1010 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

5. LDPE USD Market Prices

Film: 1070-1110 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu); (Note: The original "10700-1110 USD/ton" is corrected to "1070-1110 USD/ton" for rationality)

Coating: 1280 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

6. PP USD Market Prices

Homopolymer: 855-920 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Copolymer: 865-890 USD/ton (CFR Nansha);

Film Grade: 1030 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Transparent Grade: 985-1050 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu), up 45 USD/ton;

Pipe Grade: 1100 USD/ton (CFR Shanghai).