Niche Polymer Becomes Top U.S. Polymer Processor! Zeon Ups Investment; Nissan Output Halved Due to Batteries

International News Roundup

Raw Material News: Niche Polymer Acquires LyondellBasell Assets, Becoming U.S.'s Largest Polymer Processor

Automotive News: Nissan Halves Production of New Leaf EV Due to Battery Shortage

Electronics News: Zeon Corp. Announces Adjustment to Japanese COP Plant Plan! Investment Rises to RMB 3.78 Billion

Packaging News: U.S. Packaging Giant SONOCO Sells ThermoSafe Temperature-Controlled Packaging Business for $725 Million

Recycling News: Portugal Allocates €30 Million to Advance Recycling and Waste Valorization

Macroeconomic News: Agency: Global Smart Eyewear Market Shipments Reach 2.555 Million Units in Q2, Up 54.9% YoY

Price News: CFR Northeast Asia at $850/ton, Up $10/ton

Details of International News

Zeon Corp. Announces Adjustment to Japanese COP Plant Plan! Investment Rises to RMB 3.78 Billion

Plastmatch learned on September 17 that Zeon Corp. has announced adjustments to the investment plan for its cycloolefin polymer (COP) plant in Shunan, Japan, increasing the total investment from the previously estimated ¥70 billion to ¥78 billion (approximately RMB 3.7839 billion). The company stated that the investment increase is due to rising construction costs driven by soaring labor, material, and equipment expenses. Zeon Corp. noted that the adjusted investment includes both confirmed cost increases and expected future expenditures. To fund the investment, the company plans to use a combination of internal funds and loans from financial institutions. The new plant is expected to be completed in the first half of fiscal 2028, so Zeon Corp. believes the investment will have minimal impact on its consolidated earnings for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.

Niche Polymer Acquires LyondellBasell Assets, Becoming U.S.'s Largest Polymer Processor

Niche Polymer has acquired four U.S. resin powder plants from LyondellBasell Industries, with the acquisition amount undisclosed. The company has established a new business unit, Specialty Powders LLC, to manage the expanded powder manufacturing operations. This strategic acquisition expands the production footprint and product portfolio of West Virginia-based Niche Polymer (headquartered in Ravenswood) in the specialty powder sector. Previously known for custom compounding of thermoplastic engineering resins, the company will now leverage LyondellBasell's mature powder technology—which enables precise particle size control and customized formulations to deliver stable, high-performance products.

Image source: Niche Polymer

Nissan Halves Production of New Leaf EV Due to Battery Shortage

According to Nikkei News, Nissan Motor has drastically cut production plans for the new Leaf electric vehicle, reducing output from September to November to less than half of the original plan. The new Leaf models for the U.S. and Japanese markets are produced at Nissan's plant in Tochigi prefecture. Multiple Nissan executives revealed that production plans for fiscal 2025 have been scaled back, with particularly significant cuts in September and October, and output reductions reaching thousands of units in some months.

Image source: Nissan Motor

U.S. Packaging Giant SONOCO Sells ThermoSafe Temperature-Controlled Packaging Business for $725 Million

U.S. packaging group SONOCO has sold its ThermoSafe business unit to New York-based private equity firm Arsenal Capital Partners for a total consideration of $725 million (equivalent to €619 million). The transaction includes a base purchase price of $650 million and an additional $75 million linked to the current year's earnings. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2025, and SONOCO plans to use the net proceeds from the transaction to repay debt.

Image source: ThermoSafe

Portugal Allocates €30 Million to Advance Recycling and Waste Valorization

Plastmatch learned on September 17 that Portugal's Ministry of Environment and Energy has launched a €30 million tender project aimed at enhancing waste recycling and valorization capabilities. Eligible investment areas include: installation and modernization of sorting lines for plastic and other packaging waste; procurement of electric vehicles and containers for selective collection; construction or renovation of biowaste composting plants; and development of sewage treatment systems in waste disposal facilities. Selected projects can receive up to 100% co-funding and must be completed by December 31, 2025. The tender is open to municipal waste management companies responsible for all waste management in mainland Portugal.

Pop Mart Opens First Store in Germany, Officially Entering Central European Market

Recently, Pop Mart opened its first store in Germany at the Alexa Shopping Center in Berlin's Alexanderplatz, marking the Chinese trendy toy brand's first entry into the German-speaking market and a key move in its European strategic layout. Despite heavy rain on the opening day, fans from Hamburg, Munich, and neighboring countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic queued in the rain; some consumers even traveled 500 kilometers to snap up LABUBU series products. The store is located in Berlin's core business district Alexanderplatz—a European landmark with 13 million annual visitors—highlighting the brand's strategic focus on the Central European market.

Overseas Macro Market Information

Agency: Global Smart Eyewear Market Shipments Reach 2.555 Million Units in Q2, Up 54.9% YoY

According to the latest Global Smart Eyewear Market Quarterly Tracking Report released by International Data Corporation (IDC), global smart eyewear market shipments reached 2.555 million units in the second quarter of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 54.9%. Among them, the global audio and audio-capturing eyewear market shipped 1.618 million units, up 256.8% YoY; the AR/VR market shipped 937,000 units, down 21.6% YoY. Meta remains the leading player in the global smart eyewear market, with shipments concentrated in the U.S. and Western Europe.

Mercosur Signs Free Trade Agreement with EFTA

Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 16th that founding members of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), including Argentina and Brazil, signed a free trade agreement with members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), including Norway and Switzerland, on the same day. In a statement, Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Mercosur-EFTA free trade agreement will form a free trade area covering approximately 300 million people with an economic aggregate of over $4.3 trillion, improving market access for more than 97% of export products from both sides, boosting trade growth, and benefiting enterprises and individuals.

UK Inflation Stays at Highest Level Since Early 2024; Central Bank May Keep Rates Unchanged Tomorrow

UK inflation remained at its highest level in more than a year and a half in August, a figure that may keep Bank of England officials cautious about further interest rate cuts. While the labor market is cooling, policymakers are concerned that rising price pressures are pushing up consumers' inflation expectations. The central bank expects inflation to peak at 4% in September, double its 2% target. After the data was released, GBP/USD stabilized around 1.3646.

Price Information

RMB/USD Central Parity Rate

The central parity rate of RMB against the U.S. dollar was reported at 7.1013, up 14 pips; the central parity rate of the previous trading day was 7.1027, the official closing price of the previous trading day was 7.1163, and the night session closing price was 7.1142.

Upstream Raw Material USD Market Prices

Ethylene Asia: CFR Northeast Asia 850 USD/ton, up 10 USD/ton; CFR Southeast Asia 840 USD/ton.

Propylene Northeast Asia: FOB South Korea average 770 USD/ton; CFR China average 805 USD/ton.

North Asia frozen cargo CIF: Propane 549-550 USD/ton; Butane 565-566 USD/ton.

South China frozen cargo CIF for late October: Propane 587-597 USD/ton; Butane 567-577 USD/ton.

Taiwan region frozen cargo CIF: Propane 549-550 USD/ton; Butane 565-566 USD/ton.

LLDPE USD Market Prices

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

Injection Molding: 1050 USD/ton (CFR Dongguan);

HDPE USD Market Prices

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

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

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

Pipes: 1025 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

LDPE USD Market Prices

Film: 1100-1115 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Coating: 1280 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu).

PP USD Market Prices

Homopolymer: 855-965 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Copolymer: 875-900 USD/ton (CFR Nansha);

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

Transparent Grade: 970-1050 USD/ton (CFR Huangpu);

Pipe Grade: 1100 USD/ton (CFR Shanghai), down 30 USD/ton.