Trump suspends small-scale exemption treatment! Shell's second-quarter profit exceeds 30 billion yuan! Amcor develops PP bottle caps.

International News Guide:

Raw Materials News - Canada's Debrand receives CleanBC fund to tackle clothing plastic waste disposal challenges

Automotive News - BMW Group's first-half net profit drops 29% year-on-year

Electronics News - Iveco Group NV agrees to split its business

Packaging News - Amcor develops lightweight polypropylene caps for household products

Macro News - New Zealand government lifts ban on offshore oil and gas exploration

Price Information - Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia $820/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $830/ton

Details of International News:

1.Trump announces suspension of de minimis exemptions for all countries

On July 30 local time, the official website of the White House released an executive order signed by Trump, suspending the duty-free treatment for low-value imported products from all countries, namely the "de minimis" treatment. This means that small parcels exported to the United States by all countries/regions via postal services will no longer enjoy duty-free treatment. They must enter the United States through standard customs declaration procedures, submit complete import documents, and pay applicable tariffs and taxes, including additional tariffs.

2.Shell's adjusted profit in the second quarter is $4.26 billion

Shell's second-quarter revenue was $65.41 billion, compared with an estimate of $64.8 billion; adjusted profit was $4.26 billion, compared with an estimate of $3.74 billion; adjusted earnings per share was $0.72, compared with an estimate of $0.60.

3.JD.com plans to acquire German electronics retail giant CEconomy AG

On July 31, JD.com announced on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that it has decided to make a voluntary public takeover offer to all shareholders of CECONOMY AG, the parent company of European consumer electronics retailers MediaMarkt and Saturn, through its wholly-owned indirect subsidiary JINGDONG Holding Germany GmbH. It will acquire all issued and outstanding bearer shares of CECONOMY at a cash consideration of 4.60 euros per share and establish a strategic investment partnership. The transaction values CECONOMY at approximately 2.2 billion euros, equivalent to more than 18 billion yuan. If the transaction is successfully completed, it will set a new record for Chinese e-commerce companies' overseas expansion into Europe.

4.Iveco Group NV has agreed to split its business

Iveco Group will sell its defense business (IDV and ASTRA brands) to Leonardo SpA and the remaining business to Tata Motors Ltd. The total value of the two transactions is approximately 5.5 billion euros (equivalent to $6.3 billion).

5.Amcor develops lightweight polypropylene caps for household products

Amcor has developed a polypropylene (PP) cap for household products, which combines a unique shape with a lightweight design, helping brands enhance visual appeal while contributing to their sustainability commitments. Amcor stated that this new "Hector Child-Resistant Cap (CRC)" weighs only 7.25 grams, making it one of the lightest caps on the market, which can significantly save materials and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Compared with traditional 14-gram caps, an order of one million Hector caps can reduce plastic usage by 6.75 tons.

6.Origin partners with Hordijk to mass-produce sustainable PET caps in Europe

Origin Materials and Dutch packaging manufacturer Royal Hordijk Packaging announced a strategic partnership to mass-produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET) caps, marking an important step in promoting circular packaging solutions in the European market.

7.Canada's Debrand receives CleanBC fund to tackle clothing plastic waste disposal challenges

Debrand is a reverse logistics solutions provider based in Vancouver, Canada, serving apparel and retail brands in North America. The company has received more than $325,000 in funding from the "CleanBC Plastics Action Fund", which is jointly managed by the Government of British Columbia and Alacrity Canada and is part of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

8.UK waste management giant Bifa closes Washington plastic recycling plant

Bifa, a leading UK waste management company, announced the closure of its plastic recycling plant in Washington, Sunderland. According to "Sustainable Plastics", the plant ceased operations in early 2025 due to increasingly difficult market conditions, especially the sluggish demand for washed high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) flakes, affecting approximately 80 employees. The Washington plant, built in 2020 with an investment of 7 million pounds (approximately 8.1 million euros), was a key part of Bifa's strategy to enhance the recycling capacity of commonly used plastic packaging (such as milk bottles, buckets, and trays made of HDPE and PP). In 2023, Bifa planned to invest another 13 million pounds to double the plant's capacity, but this expansion plan was later shifted to another Bifa plant in Redcar.

Overseas Macro Market Information:

【White House official: Trump will impose higher tariffs on countries that fail to reach trade agreements】

On July 30 local time, a White House official told the media that Trump will sign an executive order on July 31 local time to impose higher tariff rates on several countries that fail to reach trade agreements by the August 1 deadline. It may include some of the United States' largest trading partners, including Canada and Mexico.

【Bank of Japan announces interest rate decision, keeps rates unchanged】

The Bank of Japan approved the interest rate decision by a 9-0 vote, keeping the interest rate unchanged, in line with expectations.

【New Zealand government lifts ban on offshore oil and gas exploration】

On July 31 local time, the New Zealand government lifted the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration. New Zealand's Resources Minister Sean Jones pointed out that this move is expected to increase natural gas supply and ease energy cost pressures. However, the decision has triggered strong opposition from environmental groups in the country, who are worried that this policy may damage New Zealand's environmental image.

【BMW Group's first-half net profit drops 29% year-on-year】

On July 31, BMW Group announced that its total operating income in the first half of the year was 67.685 billion euros, a year-on-year decrease of 8.0%; net profit was 4.015 billion euros, a year-on-year decrease of 29.0%.

【Toyota suspends production due to tsunami impact】

Nikkei News reported that due to supply chain disruptions caused by the tsunami, Toyota Motor will suspend 11 production lines at 7 factories in Japan starting from Thursday night.

Price Information:

Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia $820/ton; CFR Southeast Asia $830/ton.

Propylene Northeast Asia: FOB South Korea average price $730/ton, down $10/ton; CFR China average price $770/ton.

North Asia frozen cargo CIF: propane $505 - $512/ton; butane $490 - $497/ton.

South China frozen cargo CIF for August delivery: propane $540 - $550/ton; butane $525 - $535/ton.

Taiwan region frozen cargo CIF: propane $505 - $512/ton; butane $490 - $497/ton.

【LLDPE US dollar market price】

Film: $860 - $920/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Injection molding: $940/ton (CFR Dongguan);

【HDPE US dollar market price】

Film: $910/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Hollow: $855/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipe: $1030/ton (CFR Huangpu);

【LDPE US dollar market price】

Film: $1070 - $1095/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Coating: $1280/ton (CFR Huangpu).

【PP US dollar market price】

Homopolymer: $900 - $965/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Copolymer: $920 - $975/ton (CFR Nansha), down $20/ton;

Transparent: $1000 - $1055/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipe: $1160/ton (CFR Shanghai).