Mitsui Chemicals × Polyplastics Join Hands! China-ASEAN Mutual Recognition of Standards; U.S. and Mexico Agree to Extend Trade Negotiation Deadline

International News Guide

Raw Material News - Mitsui Chemicals and Polyplastics Announce Partnership in Engineering Plastics Marketing Business

Automotive News - Europe's Auto Sales Rose 11% to 1.24 Million Units in September

Recycling News - Ups and Downs of Chemical Recycling Projects: UK's Darlington Expands, Austria's ReOil Delays

Macroeconomic News - Mexican President Says U.S. Agrees to Extend Trade Negotiation Deadline

Price Information - CNY/USD Central Parity Rate Stands at 7.0856, Up 25 Pips

Details of International News

1.Mitsui Chemicals and Polyplastics Announce Partnership in Engineering Plastics Marketing Business

On October 27, 2025, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (referred to as "Mitsui Chemicals") and Polyplastics Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Polyplastics"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daicel Corporation (referred to as "Daicel"), announced that they have signed a cooperation agreement on the marketing business of engineering plastic products (brands: ARLEN^® and AURUM^®) developed and sold by Mitsui Chemicals.

Under the agreement, starting from January 1, 2026, Mitsui Chemicals will entrust Polyplastics with part of the marketing business of these products. Polyplastics will be fully responsible for marketing activities such as customer connection, new customer development and technical support.

2.Arkema's Borrego Plant Awarded ISCC PLUS Certification, Boosting Global Low-Carbon Application Upgrade of Sustainable Water-Based Resins

Arkema's Borrego plant in Italy has obtained ISCC PLUS certification, advancing mass-balanced sustainable water-based resins for global low-carbon applications. This milestone aligns with Arkema's broader mass balance roadmap, a strategic initiative aimed at promoting sustainable production and enhancing the environmental performance of its products.

The certification enables the plant's products to reduce Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) by up to 100%, strengthening Arkema's commitment to sustainability and supporting customers' transition to greener solutions in various markets.

3.Ups and Downs of Chemical Recycling Projects in Europe: UK's Darlington Expands, Austria's ReOil Delays

As Europe's chemical recycling policies and market environment continue to adjust, significant differences have emerged in the strategic layouts of different enterprises.

Austrian petrochemical giant OMV recently announced the delay of its industrial expansion plan for the ReOil chemical recycling facility, while Endolys in the UK plans to build a pyrolysis plant in Darlington, England, with an annual processing capacity of 120,000 tons of plastic waste. This reflects the alternating ups and downs of Europe's chemical recycling industry amid policy uncertainties.

4.EuMBC Welcomes New Member! Viracolor Masterbatches Joins the Association

The European Masterbatch and Compounders Association (EuMBC) recently announced that Viracolor Masterbatches has joined the association as a new member.

Founded in 1991, Viracolor Masterbatches is one of Turkey's leading manufacturers of color and additive masterbatches for the plastics industry. The company has nearly 30,000 square meters of production space across three factories located in Çerkezköy, Kırklareli Free Trade Zone and Gaziantep, with an annual production capacity of over 35,000 tons.

5.SINGTEX^® Wins R&D 100 Award with RePUra™ Technology

SINGTEX^® Group, a global leader in high-performance and sustainable textile manufacturing, announced that it has won the R&D 100 Awards (one of the world's top 100 technological R&D awards) with its RePUra™ technology developed through the Circu-Texfilm project.

This breakthrough technology represents the world's first patented chemical "textile-to-textile" recycling solution for complex composite textiles. It successfully addresses one of the most challenging issues in the industry and opens a new chapter for the true circular economy of global textile sustainability.

6.Europe's Auto Sales Rose 11% to 1.24 Million Units in September

Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association shows that Europe's auto sales increased by 11% to 1.24 million units in September.

New car registrations in the EU rose by 10% year-on-year to 889,000 units in September. Tesla's new car registrations in the EU dropped by 19% in September, while BYD's new car registrations in the EU surged by 272% in the same month.

7.MOFCOM: China and ASEAN First Clarify That Each May Consider Referencing the Other's Standards When Formulating Their Own, and Prioritize Standard Cooperation in NEV, Electronics & Electrical Sectors

An official from the Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) interpreted the Protocol on Upgrading the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) Version 3.0.

In the field of standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, the two sides have for the first time clearly stated that each may consider referencing the other's standards when formulating their own standards, encourage mutual recognition of conformity assessment results, jointly develop conformity assessment procedures, and prioritize standard cooperation in areas such as new energy vehicles (NEVs) and electronics & electrical appliances.

Enterprises of both sides are allowed to participate in the formulation of standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures in accordance with the law and shall be given national treatment. Relying on the China-ASEAN Standardization Cooperation Forum initiated by China, the institutional development of bilateral standard cooperation will be further strengthened.

This will establish an institutional guarantee for promoting the alignment of standards between the two sides, provide convenience for enterprises of both sides to better expand the regional market, and promote the construction of a regional integrated market.

Overseas Macroeconomic Market

【IEA: Russia's Natural Gas Exports to Europe Plunge Significantly】

The International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report on October 27, stating that in the first three quarters of 2025, Russia's natural gas exports to Europe dropped sharply, with liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports falling by 10% year-on-year and pipeline natural gas exports declining by 45%.

【Mexican President Says U.S. Agrees to Extend Trade Negotiation Deadline】

On October 27 (local time), Mexican President Xóchitl Gálvez said that U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to extend the deadline for reaching an agreement between the two countries on trade, security and immigration issues.

Gálvez stated that she had a very brief and friendly call with Trump last week, during which the two sides agreed that their respective officials would continue their work and Trump would not impose additional tariffs. She said that both sides agreed that progress has been very smooth and also agreed to hold talks in the coming weeks to strive for an agreement.

【China and ASEAN Sign Protocol on Upgrading CAFTA Version 3.0】

According to Xinhua News Agency, on October 28 (local time), China and ASEAN signed the Protocol on Upgrading the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) Version 3.0 in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.

Based on the existing China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the CAFTA Version 3.0 Upgrading Protocol comprehensively expands mutually beneficial cooperation in emerging fields, strengthens the integration of standards and regulations, and promotes regional trade facilitation and inclusive development.

【Malaysia Says Trade Agreement with U.S. Will Enhance Its Palm Oil Export Advantages】

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board stated that some products enjoy tariff exemptions under the latest trade agreement reached between Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and U.S. President Donald Trump, which will further enhance Malaysia’s palm oil advantages in market access.

Price Information

The central parity rate of CNY against USD was reported at 7.0856, an increase of 25 pips; the central parity rate of the previous trading day was 7.0881, the official closing price of the previous trading day was 7.1109, and the night session closing price of the previous day was 7.1071.

【Upstream Raw Material USD Market Prices】

Ethylene: CFR Northeast Asia USD 765/ton (stable); CFR Southeast Asia USD 755/ton (stable).

Propylene Northeast Asia: FOB South Korea average USD 740/ton (stable); CFR China average USD 760/ton (stable).

North Asia refrigerated cargo CIF price: Propane USD 487-489/ton; Butane USD 523-525/ton.

South China (China) refrigerated cargo CIF price for late November: Propane USD 538-548/ton; Butane USD 538-548/ton.

Taiwan region refrigerated cargo CIF price: Propane USD 487-489/ton; Butane USD 523-525/ton.

【LLDPE USD Market Prices】

Film: USD 830-860/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Injection Molding: USD 935/ton (CFR Huangpu).

【HDPE USD Market Prices】

Film: USD 860-900/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Injection Molding: USD 820/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Blow Molding (Hollow): USD 830-860/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipes: USD 1010/ton (CFR Huangpu).

【LDPE USD Market Prices】

Film: USD 1030-1050/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Coating: USD 1280/ton (CFR Huangpu).

【PP USD Market Prices】

Injection Molding: USD 840-915/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Copolymer: USD 840-870/ton (CFR Nansha);

Film Grade: USD 1015/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Transparent Grade: USD 1035-1125/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipes: USD 1100/ton (CFR Shanghai).