Countermeasures Against U.S. Port Fees Launched! Clariant Expands Production at Its Daya Bay Base in China! Evonik Collaborates with Schneider Electric

International News Guide

Raw Material News - Global Polyolefin Giant OMV Releases Q3 Results! Olefin Profit Margin Improves YoY

Automotive News - Clariant Invests 100 Million Swiss Francs to Expand Factory in China

Packaging News - Nestlé, Mars and Other Companies Urge EU Not to Delay EUDR Implementation!

Electronics News - Evonik Partners with Schneider Electric to Enhance Automation and Efficiency in Thermoplastic Processing and Recycling

Medical News - Asahi Kasei Strengthens Healthcare Focus, Launches New Sonanos PG/DS Products

Macroeconomic News - Ministry of Transport: Imposes Special Port Dues on U.S.-Bound Ships

Price Information - Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia USD 805/ton; CFR Southeast Asia USD 800/ton

Details of International News

1. Global Polyolefin Giant OMV Releases Q3 Results! Olefin Profit Margin Improves YoY

According to Plastmatch on October 10, OMV Group, a global polyolefin giant, stated in its trading update released on October 9 that its third-quarter olefin profit margin increased year over year (YOY). Among them, the indicative profit margin of ethylene in Europe rose from EUR 522 per ton in the same period last year to EUR 570 per ton in this quarter; the indicative profit margin of propylene increased from EUR 406 per ton in the same period last year to EUR 448 per ton in this quarter.

2.Borealis Expands XLPE Cable Production Capacity in Sweden

Plastmatch learned on October 10 that Borealis recently announced two major investments to expand its cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) production facilities in Stenungsund, Sweden. The expansion will increase the capacity of medium-voltage, high-voltage and extra-high-voltage (MV, HV, EHV) power cable insulation materials, which are crucial for renewable energy grid connection and grid modernization. This investment fully leverages the advantages of decades of R&D experience, advanced laboratories and professional technical teams at the Stenungsund base, which has become a center of excellence in the global XLPE materials field. These projects are part of Borealis and Borouge's "Building for the Future" initiative, which commits EUR 200 million to provide customers with advanced materials needed for energy transition infrastructure.

3.Asahi Kasei Strengthens Healthcare Focus, Launches New Sonanos PG/DS Products

Asahi Kasei announced that it will launch two new specialty-grade products in its Sonanos product portfolio. Paid samples are currently available, and products complying with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for pharmaceuticals are scheduled to be launched for sale in 2027. Asahi Kasei stated that Sonanos can meet the needs of the pharmaceutical industry, mainly due to its two key properties: sustained release and solubilization. With these two capabilities, it can not only develop long-acting injections and formulate water-insoluble compounds, but also expand the possibilities of treatment plans by overcoming difficulties in formulation development.

4.Nestlé, Mars and Other Companies Urge EU Not to Delay EUDR Implementation

According to Aikesen Environmental Technology, recently, several major companies including Nestlé, Mars Wrigley and Ferrero have issued a letter urging European legislators to avoid further delaying the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR). This new law aims to ensure that products imported into or exported from the EU market no longer contribute to global deforestation and forest degradation. The letter warns that further delaying the implementation of this law will have a negative impact on forests and climate change, and is unfair to enterprises that have invested to comply with the new regulations and their supply chain partners.

5.Evonik Partners with Schneider Electric to Enhance Automation and Efficiency in Thermoplastic Processing and Recycling

Evonik recently announced a cooperation with Schneider Electric to advance the automation transformation of thermoplastic processing at Evonik's High Schmidt plant in Essen, Germany. This cooperation project aims to improve the mechanical recycling efficiency of plastics, enhance the quality of recycled materials, and further fulfill the two parties' commitment to the concept of circular economy. Evonik has profound experience in high-performance additives and circular solutions, while Schneider Electric provides advanced process automation and digitalization technologies. The strong alliance between the two parties will jointly promote innovation and transformation in plastic recycling and thermoplastic processing.

6.Novoloop® Announces Strategic Cooperation with Shanghai Huide to Expand TPU Production Scale

On October 9, U.S. technology pioneer Novoloop® announced a strategic cooperation with Shanghai Huide Technology Co., Ltd. to jointly expand the production scale of Novoloop Lifecycled™ thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The two parties have signed a five-year contract manufacturing agreement, establishing a long-term and clear cooperation framework on supply, pricing and quality standards. Novoloop has developed a proprietary chemical process that can convert post-consumer polyethylene waste plastics into Lifecycled™ polyols and polyurethane raw materials with virgin quality. This breakthrough technology enables materials traditionally dependent on fossil resources to be obtained from hard-to-recycle waste plastics.

7.EU Initiates First Anti-Dumping Sunset Review Investigation on Chinese Polyvinyl Alcohols

Recently, the European Commission issued a notice stating that in response to the application submitted by Kuraray Europe GmbH on June 27, 2025, it has initiated the first anti-dumping sunset review investigation on polyvinyl alcohols (PVAs) originating from China. The investigation will examine whether the dumping of the involved products will continue or reoccur to harm the EU domestic industry if the current anti-dumping measures are lifted. The EU CN code for the involved products is ex 3905 30 00 (TARIC code: 3905 30 00 91).

8.Clariant Invests 100 Million Swiss Francs to Expand Factory in China

On October 9, Clariant completed an investment of 100 million Swiss francs in its Daya Bay production base, and the second production line will be fully put into operation in November. This capacity expansion significantly enhances Clariant's ability to meet the growing demand for more sustainable flame retardant solutions in the Asian and global markets, especially in the rapidly developing electric vehicle sector.

Overseas Macroeconomic Market

【Israeli Government Approves Gaza Ceasefire Agreement, IDF to Withdraw to New Defense Line】

According to the CCTV reporter, the Israeli government approved the Gaza ceasefire agreement in the early morning of the 10th local time. According to the relevant content announced by the negotiation mediators, the agreement reached between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) will end the war, secure the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip. According to the agreement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw to a new defense line in the Gaza Strip, after which Hamas will have 72 hours to release all hostages.

【New York Fed President Williams: Monitoring Labor Market, Supports Further Interest Rate Cuts】

John Williams, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, supports further interest rate cuts within the year and stated that he is closely monitoring the recently weakening U.S. job market. Williams said that the risk of further slowdown in the labor market is something he pays close attention to. If the economy evolves as expected - with inflation rising to about 3% and the unemployment rate rising slightly further from the current 4.3% - he will support "lowering interest rates this year, but what that specifically means remains to be seen". We will receive a lot of information next to judge whether the economy is operating as we expected. The changes in the economy in the past few months are not reflected in the inflation data.

【Ministry of Transport: Imposes Special Port Dues on U.S.-Bound Ships】

According to the website of the Ministry of Transport, on April 17, 2025, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released measures related to the Section 301 investigation on China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding industries. Starting from October 14, 2025, it will impose additional port service fees on ships owned or operated by Chinese enterprises, Chinese-flagged ships and Chinese-built ships. This seriously violates the principles related to international trade and the China-U.S. Maritime Transport Agreement, and causes serious damage to China-U.S. maritime trade.

Price Information

【CNY/USD Central Parity Rate】
The central parity rate of CNY against USD was reported at 7.1048, an increase of 54 pips; the central parity rate of the previous trading day was 7.1102, the official closing price of the previous trading day was 7.1246, and the night session closing price of the previous day was 7.1309.

【Upstream Raw Material USD Market Prices】

Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia USD 805/ton; CFR Southeast Asia USD 800/ton.

Propylene Northeast Asia: FOB South Korea average USD 750/ton; CFR China average USD 785/ton.

North Asia refrigerated cargo CIF price: Propane USD 471-474/ton; Butane USD 497-500/ton.

South China refrigerated cargo CIF price for late October: Propane USD 535-545/ton; Butane USD 525-535/ton.

Taiwan region refrigerated cargo CIF price: Propane USD 471-474/ton; Butane USD 497-500/ton.

【LLDPE USD Market Prices】

Film: USD 850-900/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Injection Molding: USD 975-1010/ton (CFR Huangpu).

【HDPE USD Market Prices】

Film: USD 910-940/ton (CFR Huangpu);

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

Injection Molding: USD 830-840/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipes: USD 1010/ton (CFR Huangpu).

【LDPE USD Market Prices】

Film: USD 1050-1110/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Coating: USD 1280/ton (CFR Huangpu).

【PP USD Market Prices】

Homopolymer: USD 855-915/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Copolymer: USD 865-880/ton (CFR Nansha);

Film Grade: USD 1010-1030/ton (CFR Huangpu);

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

Pipes: USD 1100/ton (CFR Shanghai).