World’s First Commercial Polymer Heart Valve Launched! EU Considers Support for Plastic Recyclers! MediaTek Sues Huawei at EU Unified Patent Court

International News Digest:

Raw Materials - EU Weighs Measures to Save Plastic Recycling Firms

Automotive - Tesla Robotaxi Debuts Quietly with ~10 Model Ys

Packaging -BASF Japan and partners to develop bag-in-box container for edible oil using rPA

Electronics - MediaTek Sues Huawei at EU Unified Patent Court

Medical - World’s First Commercial Polymer Heart Valve Launched!

Macro - 50% Tariff on "Steel Derivatives" Takes Effect Today!

Price - Ethylene Asia: CFR NE Asia $830/ton, Up $10

International News Details

EU Considers Support Measures to Rescue Plastic Recyclers

The EU is considering ways to support European plastics recyclers. Speaking to the press after the June 17 Environment Council meeting, European Commissioner Jessika Roswall said she discussed European plastic recyclers’ urgent need for support with Ministers.The meeting was held by Roswall, the European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, together with Environment Ministers for EU member states.

Tesla Robotaxi Debuts Quietly with Only ~10 Model Ys

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced via social media platform X that the company’s Robotaxi service launched Sunday, calling it "the culmination of a decade of hard work." Only about 10 Robotaxis were initially deployed, limited to invited social media influencers with restricted driving zones—modest compared to Musk’s earlier autonomous taxi visions.

BASF Partners to Develop rPA-Based Edible Oil Bag-in-Box Packaging

BASF Japan, Kohjin Film & Chemicals, TOPPAN, a group company of TOPPAN Holdings Inc., and J-OIL MILLS, INC. are collaborating to develop Japan's first “bag-in-box” (BIB*2) commercial container for edible oil using chemically recycled polyamide. This collaboration supports the recycling of packaging materials.

MediaTek Sues Huawei at EU Unified Patent Court

HFI Innovation, a subsidiary of MediaTek, sued five Huawei-affiliated companies at the Mannheim division of the EU Unified Patent Court (UPC) for infringing European Patent EP2689624, an LTE patent titled "Enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel Search Space Configuration Method." This responds to Huawei’s earlier patent infringement lawsuit against MediaTek.

World’s First Commercial Polymer Heart Valve Launched!

Foldax’s Tria mitral valve obtained approval from India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), becoming the world’s first commercial polymer heart valve. Made from proprietary LifePolymer™—a non-animal-derived polymer designed for anti-calcification and biostability—Tria™ reduces calcification risks and eliminates the need for lifelong anticoagulants, outperforming traditional biological and mechanical valves.

50% Tariff on "Steel Derivatives" Takes Effect Today!

The U.S. Department of Commerce imposed a 50% tariff on steel-derived household appliances (dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators, etc.) from June 23. The move adds eight appliance categories to "steel derivatives," sparking EU-U.S. tariff negotiations with unclear prospects. The EU may take broad countermeasures if no agreement is reached.

Researchers Develop Catalyst to Break Down PFAS in Wetting Agents

Chemists at Goethe University Frankfurt developed a catalyst targeting  capable of breaking down per-and polyfluorinated organic substances (PFAS) - also known as ‘forever chemicals’ - in a targeted manner. PFAS are widely used to make surfaces resistant to dirt and water, but their extreme persistence in the environment and potential health risks have made them a growing concern. What sets this new catalyst apart is that it does not rely on costly or toxic heavy metals like platinum, palladium, or iridium. Beyond its ability to degrade PFAS, the catalyst could also be used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals

Wearable Breakthrough! Diabetes Patch Pump System Nears Launch

PharmaSens AG, developer of an innovative insulin patch pump, and SiBionics, a CGM technology leader, announced a strategic partnership to develop the niia signature—an integrated patch pump system combining insulin delivery and real-time glucose monitoring for diabetics.

Overseas Macro Updates

• Iran to Continue Uranium Enrichment
  Iran will persist with uranium enrichment, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said, stressing, "No one can tell Iran what to do."
• Japan Denies U.S. Demand to Raise Defense Spending to 3.5% of GDP
  Japan rejected reports that the U.S. demanded defense spending reach 3.5% of GDP. "It’s not about the amount but how Japan enhances capabilities," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said.
• Global Shipping Alerts to Middle East Risks as Two Supertankers U-Turn Before Hormuz
  Two VLCCs carrying ~2 million barrels of crude oil turned back from the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the first diversions since Israel’s June 13 attacks. Tanker freight rates have surged 90%, with derivatives rising further.
• Goldman Warns Middle East Tensions Could Push Brent to $110
  Goldman Sachs said oil and gas prices could rise if Hormuz Strait shipments drop by half for a month, potentially pushing Brent to $110/barrel. A 1.75 mb/d reduction in Iranian supply could lift Brent to $90.
• U.S. Plans to Withdraw Semiconductor Waivers for China Operations
  U.S. Commerce Department notified TSMC, Samsung, and other chipmakers of plans to revoke waivers allowing them to use U.S. technology in mainland China.

Price Information

【USD/CNY Central Parity】
7.1710, down 15 pips (prev: 7.1695; official close: 7.1837; overnight: 7.1820)

【Raw Materials (USD/ton)】

• Ethylene Asia: CFR NE Asia 840 (up 10), CFR SE Asia 860 (up 10)
• Propylene NE Asia: FOB Korea avg 715; CFR China avg 765 (up 5)
• North Asia LPG CIF: Propane 586-588, Butane 556-558
• South China LPG July arrival: Propane 625-635, Butane 562-572
• Taiwan LPG CIF: Propane 586-588, Butane 556-558

【LLDPE USD Market Prices】

• Film: $915/ton (CFR Huangpu)
• Injection: $960/ton (CFR Dongguan)

【HDPE USD Market Prices】

• Film: $900-915/ton (CFR Huangpu)
• Hollow: $865/ton (CFR Huangpu)

【LDPE USD Market Prices】

• Film: $1,035/ton (CFR Xiamen)

【PP USD Market Prices】

• Homopolymer: $890-980/ton (CFR Huangpu, up $5/ton)
• Copolymer: $965-995/ton (CFR Huangpu, up $5/ton)
• Transparent: $1,100/ton (CFR Huangpu)
• Pipe: $1,160/ton (CFR Shanghai)