Chemical recycling track heats up ! Midea invests in a new refrigerator factory in Brazil ; India increases anti-dumping against China

News Digest:

Raw Materials - PureCycle Technologies Secures $300M for Global Recycling Expansion

Automotive - EU sets phased targets for recycled plastic in vehicles

Packaging - Danone Canada invests $9M in PET yogurt cup production

Electronics - Midea invests in four new projects in Brazil's Minas Gerais

Medical - Sanner Begins Medical Injection Molding Operations in North Carolina

Macro - US media: Iran may build nuke if key facilities attacked or supreme leader assassinated

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

International News Details

1.Versalis plans industrial-scale chemical recycling in Italy after demo plant launch
Versalis SpA, the chemicals business of Eni Spa, said it is in the design phase for a 40,000 metric tons per year plant planned to be built at Priolo, Italy, for the chemical recycling of mixed waste plastics. The company, which announced June 19 it had successfully completed initial production tests at a demonstration chemical recycling plant in Mantua, Italy, with a nameplate processing capacity of 6,000 metric tons per year of secondary raw materials, said it has already completed a feasibility study for the larger project. 

2. PureCycle Technologies Secures $300M for Global Recycling Expansion
U.S.-based polyolefin chemical recycling company PureCycle Technologies Inc. has announced it has secured $300 million in funding. The funds will be used to support the company’s goal of recycling 500,000 tons of polypropylene (PP) plastic annually by 2030. The focus will be on building chemical recycling facilities in Augusta, Georgia (USA); Antwerp, Belgium; and Rayong, Thailand.

3. NOVA Chemicals Commissions Recycling Plant for PE Film in Indiana

NOVA Chemicals Corp., based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, has launched its first polyethylene (PE) film recycling facility, SYNDIGO1, in Connersville, Indiana. Spanning 450,000 square feet, this advanced facility is designed to recycle 145,000 bales of used plastic film annually, producing over 100 million pounds of SYNDIGO recycled PE (rLLDPE) suitable for both food and non-food packaging. Full operations are expected by early 2026.

4. Midea invests in four new projects in Brazil's Minas Gerais

Midea announced 198 million reais ($39.6M) in investments across four projects in Minas Gerais, Brazil: a logistics center, Welling motor plant, Midea EPS plant, and new refrigerator factory, creating 830 jobs.

Alert! India launches anti-dumping probe into Chinese TPU paint protection films

India's Directorate General of Trade Remedies initiated an anti-dumping investigation into thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-based surface/paint protection films from China, covering HS codes 39095000, 39191000, etc.

EU sets phased targets for recycled plastic in vehicles

The EU Council finalized end-of-life vehicle (ELV) regulations, mandating recycled plastic content to increase from 15% (6 years after enactment) to 20% (8 years) and 25% (10 years), laying groundwork for recycled steel, aluminum, and critical materials targets.

Sanner Begins Medical Injection Molding Operations in North Carolina

Germany’s Sanner announced today that it has officially begun manufacturing operations in Greensboro, NC. The new 60,000-square-foot facility is dedicated to the production of critical injection-molded components for medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging, as well as desiccant-related products.

US toy giants sue president at Supreme Court over tariff policy

Learning Resources and hand2mind filed an emergency motion at the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of former President Trump's tariff policies under the IEEPA, which they say have surged import costs for the toy industry.

Danone Canada invests $9M in PET yogurt cup production
Danone Canada will invest $9 million at its Boucherville, Quebec plant to locally produce PET yogurt cups for its Oikos Greek-style high-protein yogurt brand.

Overseas Macro Updates

【US media: Iran may pursue nukes if key sites attacked or leader killed】

The New York Times reported US intelligence assesses Iran could decide to build nuclear weapons if the US attacks its Fordo enrichment facility or Israel assassinates Supreme Leader Khamenei, though Iran has not yet made a final decision.

【Trump "delays two weeks" on Iran attack decision】
The New York Post said Trump is cautious about bombing Iran, worrying about creating "another Libya" if the regime falls, hence delaying the decision by two weeks.

【South Korea imposes provisional anti-dumping duties on Chinese sodium dithionite】
South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance will levy 15.15% on Yantai Jinhe Insurance Powder Factory and related firms, 33.97% on other Chinese producers, effective June 21 for four months.

Price Information

【USD/CNY central parity】

 7.1695, up 34 pips (prev: 7.1729; official close: 7.1882; overnight: 7.1870)

【raw materials (USD/ton)】

• Ethylene Asia: CFR NE Asia 830 (up 10), CFR SE Asia 850
• Propylene NE Asia: FOB Korea avg 715 (up 5), CFR China avg 760
• North Asia LPG CIF: Propane 582-584, Butane 552-554
• South China LPG July arrival: Propane 619-629, Butane 556-566
• Taiwan LPG CIF: Propane 582-584, Butane 552-554

【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: $890-975/ton (CFR Huangpu, up $5/ton)
• Copolymer: $965-990/ton (CFR Huangpu)
• Film stock: $1,025-1,090/ton (CFR Huangpu)
• Transparent: $1,100/ton (CFR Huangpu)
• Pipe: $1,160/ton (CFR Shanghai)