International News Digest:
Raw Materials - Röhm Shutters Louisiana Plant, Texas Mega-facility Launches
Automotive - $7,500 Tax Credit Expiring! EV Makers Urge U.S. Consumers to "Buy Now"
Additives -Sanyo Chemical Industries introduces additive to reduce wear and seizure in EV drive units
Packaging -Veolia announces £70m plastics recycling facility in Shropshire
Macro - Trump Announces 50% Tariff on Copper, Effective August 1
Price - USD/CNY Central Parity at 7.1510, Up 31 Pips
International News Details
1. Röhm Officially Closes Louisiana MMA Plant, Launches Another World-Class Facility
Röhm has confirmed the official closure of its methyl methacrylate (MMA) production facility in Westwego, Louisiana. The site marks the end of an era as production shifts to the newly operational world-class plant in Bay City, Texas. The Westwego plant was shut down as scheduled at the end of June, fully aligned with the strategic transformation plan announced two years ago. The closure coincides with the successful launch of Röhm’s new flagship MMA production facility in Texas. The Bay City plant represents a major technological advancement for the company, using Röhm’s proprietary LiMA technology with an annual MMA capacity of 250,000 tonnes. MMA is a key raw material used in various plastics and polymer applications.
2. Africa’s First Battery Recycling Hub Established, Hinckley Leads Resource Recycling in Nigeria
Hinckley E-Waste Recycling Company recently secured a new round of strategic investment, co-funded by Goodwell Investments and Alitheia Capital through the uMunthu II Impact Fund. The funds will be used to build Nigeria’s first specialized lithium-ion and lead-acid battery recycling plant in Ogun State. Designed to process 30,000 tonnes of e-waste annually, the project will simultaneously expand export operations, helping the company consolidate its position as a benchmark in Africa’s sustainable recycling sector. This financing marks Goodwell’s first foray into waste management, reflecting growing international confidence in African green infrastructure. Facing the dual challenges of surging global e-waste and Africa’s underdeveloped recycling systems, Hinckley is breaking new ground with a "dual-drive model" of environmental governance and industrial upgrading.
3.$7,500 Tax Credit Expiring! EV Makers Urge U.S. Consumers to "Buy Now "
Automakers are urging U.S. consumers to rush to purchase electric vehicles before the $7,500 tax credit expires. Tesla’s homepage displayed a banner on Tuesday: "The $7,500 tax credit is ending. Take delivery by September 30, 2025." On the same day, Ford extended free home charging stations and installation services until the end of September to attract EV buyers. The comprehensive tax and budget bill in the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" will eliminate the $7,500 tax credit for purchasing or leasing new EVs and the $4,000 credit for used EVs by the end of September. The U.S. Congress approved the $7,500 tax credit for EVs and plug-in hybrids in 2008. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act under the Biden administration extended the credit while restricting it to EVs produced in the U.S. with batteries and related materials meeting certain domestic sourcing ratios.
4. Sanyo Chemical Launches Additive to Reduce Wear and Galling in EV Drive Units
Sanyo Chemical has developed a new anti-wear polymer additive, ACLUBE NS-100, specifically designed for E-Axle drive units in electric vehicles (EVs). The additive addresses challenges associated with the trend toward low-viscosity lubricants (E-fluids) in EVs, such as thinner oil films and risks of wear and galling. ACLUBE NS-100 exhibits excellent anti-wear and anti-galling properties. Additionally, it offers multiple characteristics required for E-fluids, including copper corrosion resistance, electrical insulation, and oxidation stability. These features help enhance the durability of E-Axle units and contribute to improved EV range and energy efficiency.
5. £70 Million Investment, 80,000 Tonnes Annual Plastic Processing! Veolia to Build Plastic Recycling Plant in UK
Veolia has confirmed a £70 million investment to convert a disused industrial facility at Battlefield, near Shrewsbury, into a high-capacity plastic sorting and recycling plant. The facility, set to process 80,000 tonnes of plastic annually, will create over 130 permanent jobs in addition to those required during construction. Operations are scheduled to begin in early 2026. The announcement coincided with French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to the UK and marks Veolia’s largest plastics recycling investment in the country to date. The development will include the UK’s first dedicated "tray-to-tray" closed-loop PET recycling facility, processing post-consumer PET1 trays and bottles into food-grade flake for new packaging, primarily supplying the UK grocery and food manufacturing sectors.
6. RTI and Kinova Partner to Accelerate Development of Next-Generation Medical Robotics Systems
Real-Time Innovations (RTI), a software framework company focusing on physical artificial intelligence systems, has announced a partnership with Kinova, a global leader in professional and medical robotics. The collaboration aims to seamlessly integrate advanced robotics technology with data center-style connectivity, simplifying and accelerating product lifecycles, reducing project risks, and "redefining possibilities" in the new era of physical AI for advanced systems like surgical robots.
7.OMV and ADNOC’s $13.4 Billion Acquisition of Nova Cleared by EU
The European Commission has approved the acquisition of Nova Chemicals by Borouge Group International, a proposed joint venture between petrochemical giants OMV and ADNOC. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and the Austrian firm announced the $13.4 billion deal in March 2025. With this acquisition, Borouge Group International will rank among the world’s top four polyolefin producers.
8.Trump’s Second Wave of "Tariff Letters" Targets 8 Countries, Brazil Faces 50% Rate
Following 14 "tariff notification letters" issued on Monday, Trump’s second wave of tariff letters arrived on Wednesday, covering 8 countries. U.S. President Trump posted letters to Brunei, Algeria, Moldova, Iraq, the Philippines, and Libya on his social media platform Truth Social. Trump stated that the U.S. will impose a 25% tariff on products from Brunei and Moldova, 30% on Algeria, Iraq, and Libya, and 20% on the Philippines, effective August 1. Shortly after, Trump released a letter to Sri Lanka, announcing a 30% tariff on all Sri Lankan products starting August 1, 2025. Additionally, Trump posted a letter to Brazil on Truth Social, stating that the U.S. will impose a 50% tariff on all Brazilian products from August 1, 2025—far exceeding the 10% reciprocal tariff rate for Brazil announced by Trump on April 2.
Overseas macro market information:
Trump Announces 50% Tariff on Copper, Effective August 1
U.S. President Trump posted on social media: "After receiving a strong national security assessment, I am announcing a 50% tariff on copper, effective August 1, 2025."
Facing 50% Tariff Amid Trade Deficit, Lula Vows Retaliation; Brazilian Assets Plummet
Brazil, which runs a trade deficit with the U.S., is not spared from tariffs. Trump linked the tariff decision to Brazil’s judicial trial of former President Bolsonaro, clearly political. Lula responded that Brazil will not be "instructed" by anyone and warned of retaliation under Brazil’s economic reciprocity law against any unilateral tariff hikes.
Copper Traders Divert to Hawaii, Puerto Rico to Avoid Trump’s 50% Tariff
Reports indicate that copper traders are urgently adjusting shipping routes, diverting copper cargoes to Hawaii and Puerto Rico to avoid the 50% tariff on copper imports imposed by the Trump administration starting August 1. Originally taking over a month, the emergency rerouting allows delivery in just 10 days. As a typically speculative commodity, copper can gain a 25% premium during this period, impacting New York copper futures prices with a range comparable to global benchmarks.
Peru Issues Preliminary Anti-Dumping Ruling on Chinese Wire Rods
According to the Ministry of Commerce, on July 8, 2025, Peru’s National Institute for the Defense of Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI) published Announcement No. 092-2025/CDB-INDECOPI in the official gazette El Peruano, issuing a preliminary anti-dumping ruling on Chinese-origin wire rods (Spanish: alambrón de acero sin aleación, de bajo y alto carbono, de sección y superficie lisa, y con un diámetro que varía entre 5.5 mm y 16 mm). A provisional anti-dumping duty of $64.6/tonne is imposed, effective the day after the announcement.
Colombia Issues Final Anti-Dumping Sunset Review Ruling on Chinese Steel Strand
According to the Ministry of Commerce, on July 3, 2025, Colombia’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism published Announcement No. 166 in the official gazette, issuing a final anti-dumping sunset review ruling on Chinese-origin steel strand (Spanish: cables de acero, torón galvanizado y torón para concreto preesforzado). A minimum FOB price of $3.36/kg is maintained; for products declared below this price, a differential anti-dumping duty will be imposed. The Colombian tariff code for the products is 7312.10.90.00. The measure takes effect the day after the announcement, with a five-year validity.
Price information:
USD/CNY Central Parity
7.1510, up 31 pips; previous trading day’s central parity 7.1541, previous trading day’s official closing price 7.1824, overnight closing price 7.1815.
Raw Materials USD Market Prices
Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia $820/tonne; CFR Southeast Asia $830/tonne.
Propylene Northeast Asia: FOB Korea average price $740/tonne; CFR China average price $775/tonne, down $10/tonne.
North Asia frozen cargo CIF price: propane $542-544/tonne; butane $512-514/tonne.
South China frozen cargo for first half of August CIF price: propane $568-575/tonne; butane $538-545/tonne.
Taiwan region frozen cargo CIF price: propane $542-544/tonne; butane $512-514/tonne.
LLDPE USD Market Prices
Film: $875-910/tonne (CFR Huangpu);
Injection molding: $950/tonne (CFR Dongguan).
HDPE USD Market Prices
Film: $920/tonne (CFR Huangpu);
Hollow: $855-860/tonne (CFR Huangpu).
LDPE USD Market Prices
Film: $1,070-1,110/tonne (CFR Huangpu), down $10/tonne;
Coating: $1,350/tonne (CFR Huangpu).
PP USD Market Prices
Homopolymer: $935-980/tonne (CFR Huangpu);
Copolymer: $965-995/tonne (CFR Huangpu);
Film material: $1,000/tonne (CFR Huangpu);
Transparent: $1,085/tonne (CFR Huangpu);
Pipe material: $1,160/tonne (CFR Shanghai).
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