Sumitomo Chemical and Two Other Companies Merge and Restructure! CNG Partners with Nova Chemicals! Eastman Launches New rPET Product

Guide to International News:

Raw Material News - In collaboration with Sumitomo Chemical: Merger and restructuring! Mitsui Chemicals announces new market strategy

Automotive News - BASF launches new GLYSANTIN® low-conductivity coolant to enhance electric vehicle protection performance

Medical News - Siemens Healthineers considers selling its diagnostics business

Packaging News - Eastman partners with Doloop to launch new rPET beverage bottle

Equipment News - Arburg shuts down its additive manufacturing business unit

Macroeconomic News - Stock markets in Japan and South Korea close higher, setting new closing highs

Price News: Film: USD 910-980/ton (CFR Huangpu)

Below is the detailed international news:

1. Arburg Shuts Down Its Additive Manufacturing Business Unit

According to news from Plastics Vision on September 11, German machinery manufacturer Arburg announced in a statement that it will withdraw from the additive manufacturing (commonly known as 3D printing) business sector. Starting from December 31, 2025, Arburg will no longer launch its Freeformer 3D printer products. However, the company will still provide comprehensive technical support and spare parts supply services for the Freeformer machines already in use in the market.

2. In Collaboration with Sumitomo Chemical: Merger and Restructuring! Mitsui Chemicals Announces New Market Strategy

On September 10, Mitsui Chemicals, Idemitsu Kosan, and Sumitomo Chemical announced that the three parties have reached a memorandum of understanding on integrating Prime Polymer Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "PRM"), a polyolefin (PO) business company jointly owned by Mitsui Chemicals and Idemitsu Kosan. Details of the integration method and the terms and conditions of the business integration have not yet been determined, but the three companies initially plan to transfer Sumitomo Chemical’s polypropylene (PP) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) businesses in Japan to PRM and acquire a 20% stake in PRM. Eventually, the shareholding structure will be 52% for Mitsui, 28% for Idemitsu Kosan, and 20% for Sumitomo Chemical.

3. CNG Partners with Nova Chemicals to Lay Out Recycled Polyethylene Business, Providing Sustainable Solutions for Flexible Packaging

Plastics Vision learned that Charter Next Generation (CNG) of the United States has reached a strategic partnership with Nova Chemicals, planning to commercialize high-quality recycled polyethylene (rPE) for application in the high-end flexible packaging field, providing important support for the development of the circular economy of flexible films.
A long-term agreement has been signed this time, under which CNG will purchase Nova Chemicals’ Syndigo series rPE resins. This material is a post-consumer recycled material derived from recycled films and plastic packaging, which can significantly reduce carbon emissions compared with virgin polyethylene.

4. Eastman Partners with Doloop to Launch New rPET Beverage Bottle

According to news from Plastics Vision on September 11, Eastman has joined hands with packaging manufacturer Doloop to launch a 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) beverage bottle at Drinktec 2025 (the International Trade Fair for Beverage and Liquid Food Technology Germany 2025), marking an important step in the field of sustainable packaging.

5. BASF Launches New GLYSANTIN^® Low-Conductivity Coolant to Enhance Electric Vehicle Protection Performance

BASF has launched the new GLYSANTIN® ELECTRIFIED^® low-conductivity coolant, aiming to improve the safety and stability of electric vehicle battery systems. This series of coolants complies with the new national standard GB 29743.2-2025, which will take effect in China on October 1. Its design is intended to reduce the risk of battery safety, thereby improving the overall safety and service life of the vehicle.

6. Siemens Healthineers Considers Selling Its Diagnostics Business

According to people familiar with the matter, medical technology group Siemens Healthineers is considering selling its diagnostics business and has conducted preliminary contacts with major private equity firms. Potential interested companies include Blackstone Group, CVC, KKR, and Montagu. Siemens Healthineers began evaluating its diagnostics business two years ago. This business sector mainly involves testing blood and tissue samples to identify diseases and infections, and its current valuation exceeds 6 billion euros. The imaging sector and the Varian business focusing on cancer treatment technology will not be included in any potential sale.

7. Unilin Opens the World’s First Recyclable PIR Insulation Board Factory

Recently, Unilin opened the world’s first fully recyclable factory for PIR (polyisocyanurate) insulation boards in Desselgem, Belgium, setting a new benchmark for sustainability. This advanced factory is a major achievement in Unilin’s goal of reducing environmental impact and improving the circularity of insulation products. With an investment of 8 million euros, this modern recycling factory enables Unilin to chemically recycle post-industrial PIR insulation boards and internal production waste into new PIR insulation products. Unilin’s new factory marks an important step for the company in continuously reducing its carbon footprint and supporting sustainable construction practices, as it is the first manufacturer in the insulation industry to achieve this feat.

Overseas Macroeconomic Market Information:

Stock markets in Japan and South Korea close higher, setting new closing highs: The Nikkei 225 Index closed up 1.2% at 44,372.50 points. Japan’s TOPIX Index closed up 0.2% at 3,147.76 points. South Korea’s KOSPI Index closed up 0.9% at 3,344.15 points.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority consults the industry on the revised cryptoasset regulatory policy manual: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has released a new regulatory policy manual outlining the classification of cryptoassets under the Basel capital rules. Starting from January 1, 2026, Hong Kong will implement the Basel framework by revising its capital, disclosure, and large exposure rules.

Citi expects USD/JPY to test the 140 level in the fourth quarter: Citigroup stated that even if Yuriko Koike, regarded as a proponent of reflation, becomes the next Prime Minister, the normalization of the Bank of Japan’s monetary policy will not be hindered. As the Federal Reserve is expected to restart the interest rate cut cycle this month, the narrowing of the U.S.-Japan interest rate differential may exert downward pressure on USD/JPY over time. It is expected that USD/JPY will drop to around 140 in the fourth quarter.

Price Information:

CNY/USD Central Parity Rate:

The central parity rate of CNY against USD was reported at 7.1034, an increase of 28 pips;

the central parity rate of the previous trading day was 7.1062, the official closing price of the previous trading day was 7.1221, and the overnight trading price was 7.1207.

Upstream Raw Material USD Market Prices:

Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia USD 840/ton;

CFR Southeast Asia USD 840/ton

Propylene Northeast Asia: FOB South Korea average USD 760/ton; CFR China average USD 800/ton, up USD 10/ton

North Asia frozen cargo CIF price: Propane USD 544-546/ton; Butane USD 554-556/ton, up USD 2-3/ton

South China frozen cargo CIF price for early October: Propane USD 594-604/ton; Butane USD 574-584/ton, up USD 3/ton

Taiwan region frozen cargo CIF price: Propane USD 544-546/ton; Butane USD 554-556/ton, up USD 2-3/ton

LLDPE USD Market Prices:

Film: USD 860-915/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Injection molding: USD 1,050/ton (CFR Dongguan)

HDPE USD Market Prices:

Film: USD 910-980/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Blow molding: USD 855/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Injection molding: USD 870/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipes: USD 1,025/ton (CFR Huangpu)

LDPE USD Market Prices:

Film: USD 1,100-1,115/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Coating: USD 1,280/ton (CFR Huangpu)

PP USD Market Prices:

Homopolymer: USD 915-965/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Copolymer: USD 890-900/ton (CFR Nansha);

Film grade: USD 1,020/ton (CFR Nansha);

Transparent grade: USD 955-1,050/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipes: USD 1,130/ton (CFR Shanghai)