International News Guide:
Major Companies News -Celanese Earnings Up from Q1 Despite Continued Weak Demand
Recycling News - New High-Strength Plastic Promises Endless Recycling Without Losing Quality
Automotive News - University of Michigan Discovers 3D X-Ray View of Magnesium Alloys, Revolutionizing Lightweight Automotive Design
Packaging News - Market Alert: Consumption of Plastic Shopping Bags in Europe Continues to Decline
Macro News - China's Tablet Market Shipments Grew 15.6% YoY in Q2 2025
Price Information - USD/CNY Central Parity Rate at 7.1418, Up 13 Pips
International News Details:
1. Battle Looms Over Braskem's US Assets
Competing groups seeking control of Brazilian petrochemical giant Braskem are likely to oppose any sale of the company's US assets, according to three sources close to the discussions who spoke to media outlets this week.
Brazilian chemical manufacturer Unipar has reportedly entered negotiations to purchase Braskem's polypropylene facilities in Texas, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia for approximately $1 billion, according to Brazilian newspaper O Globo, citing a source familiar with the negotiations.
2. Celanese Earnings Up from Q1 Despite Continued Weak Demand
Celanese Corp. (Dallas, Texas) on Aug. 11 reported second-quarter net income of $202 million, up from a loss of $17 million in the first quarter and up 32% year over year from $153 million. Revenues totaled $2.532 billion, up 5% sequentially and down 4% year over year. Adjusted earnings per share came to $1.44, up 153% sequentially from 57 cents, down 39% year over year from $2.38, and ahead of the analysts’ consensus estimate of $1.40 as compiled by S&P Capital IQ. The company attributed the sequential gains to self-help measures, noting that demand remained weak in both the engineered materials (EM) and acetyl chain segments.
3. New High-Strength Plastic Promises Endless Recycling Without Losing Quality
August 12 - As modern engineering raises the bar for materials, requiring not only shape retention but also light weight, high strength, heat resistance, and excellent damage recovery, such materials could mean safer transportation, longer service life, and less environmental waste in aerospace, defense, and automotive industries.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have now taken a major step toward this goal. They discovered new properties in a super-durable, recyclable plastic called aromatic thermoset copolyester (ATSP). This plastic can self-heal, restore shape, and maintain strength through repeated use—potentially setting new benchmarks for reliability and sustainability in high-performance manufacturing.
Supported by the U.S. Department of Defense, the project involved aerospace engineering and materials science experts from Texas A&M University and the University of Tulsa.
4. Market Alert: Consumption of Plastic Shopping Bags in Europe Continues to Decline
Market research on Europe's plastic, paper bag, and pouch market shows sustained consumption decline. According to the Bio-Based Plastics Institute, Europe is taking a tough stance against single-use packaging. With the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) now in effect, the policy aiming to reduce packaging waste by at least 15% by 2040 has significantly impacted Europe's bag market.
Ceresana's fifth comprehensive survey of Europe's bag market reveals that plastic shopping bag consumption continues to decline, paper packaging is accelerating replacement in multiple sectors, while functional plastics with special properties and bio-based materials are opening up new growth opportunities.
5. BASF’s Chemetall to Supply PET Recycling Solutions for Circular Plastics Company's New Plant
The Surface Treatment global business unit of BASF’s Coatings division, operating under the Chemetall brand, has been selected to supply innovative PET recycling washing solutions for Circular Plastics Company’s new plastic recycling plant in Vung Tau, Vietnam.
6. University of Michigan Captures First 3D X-Ray View of Magnesium Alloys, Set to Revolutionize Lightweight Automotive Design
A breakthrough in materials science could help engineers design stronger, lighter, and more fuel-efficient cars. Researchers at the University of Michigan used powerful X-rays to capture the first 3D view of the internal microstructure of lightweight magnesium alloys, revealing how they absorb stress without breaking—opening the door to broader automotive applications of magnesium, with potential for cost reduction and performance improvement.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the study provides new insights into how magnesium alloys respond to mechanical stress. Magnesium is 30% lighter than aluminum, but while some manufacturers already use it in non-load-bearing components, its wider application is limited by unpredictable behavior under stress. Understanding and controlling this behavior could make magnesium a mainstream material in automotive production.
Overseas Macro Market Information:
IDC: China's Tablet Market Shipments Grew 15.6% YoY in Q2 2025
Recently, International Data Corporation (IDC) released the China Tablet Market Quarterly Tracking Report, Q2 2025. IDC data shows that China's tablet market shipments reached 8.32 million units in Q2 2025, up 15.6% year-on-year. The consumer market continued the momentum of "national subsidies" driven by new products and major promotions, with shipments rising 16.7% YoY; the commercial market demand remained to be recovered, but inventory digestion created shipment opportunities, with market size growing slightly by 3% YoY.
RBA Cuts Key Interest Rate by 25 Basis Points to 3.6%
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.6%.
Market Focus on U.S. July CPI Data Tonight
At 20:30 Beijing time tonight, the U.S. July CPI data will be released. The market expects core inflation to rebound moderately. With the Federal Reserve currently split between hawkish and dovish views, if the data confirms tariff transmission and economic uncertainty, the Fed's rate cut path may become more cautious.
EU Says It Will Prepare 19th Round of Sanctions Against Russia
EU foreign ministers held an emergency meeting on August 11. After the meeting, Josep Borrell posted on social media that EU foreign ministers expressed support for U.S. efforts to promote a "just peace" regarding the Ukraine crisis. "At the same time, the EU is committed to imposing more sanctions on Russia, providing more military support to Ukraine, and increasing support for Ukraine's budget needs and EU accession process."
Price Information:
USD/CNY Central Parity Rate
The central parity rate of USD/CNY was quoted at 7.1418, up 13 pips; the central parity rate of the previous trading day was 7.1405.
Upstream Raw Materials USD Market Prices
Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia $820/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $830/ton.
Propylene Northeast Asia: FOB Korea average price $745/ton, up $5/ton; CFR China average price $780/ton, up $10/ton.
North Asia frozen cargo CIF price: propane $504-514/ton; butane $495-505/ton.
South China frozen cargo CIF price for early September: propane $555-565/ton; butane $530-540/ton.
Taiwan region frozen cargo CIF price: propane $504-514/ton; butane $495-505/ton.
LLDPE USD Market Prices
Film: $860-910/ton (CFR Huangpu);
Injection molding: $940/ton (CFR Dongguan).
HDPE USD Market Prices
Film: $900/ton (CFR Huangpu);
Blow molding: $855/ton (CFR Huangpu);
Injection molding: $890/ton (CFR Huangpu);
Pipe: $1,025/ton (CFR Huangpu).
LDPE USD Market Prices
Film: $1,085-1,095/ton (CFR Huangpu);
Coating: $1,280/ton (CFR Huangpu).
PP USD Market Prices
Homopolymer: $910-965/ton (CFR Huangpu);
Copolymer: $910-965/ton (CFR Nansha);
Film grade: $1,030/ton (CFR Nansha);
Transparent: $980-1,055/ton (CFR Huangpu), down $5/ton;
Pipe: $1,130/ton (CFR Shanghai).
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