Yellow River Sees This Year's First Flood! Which Plastics Benefit Under Flood Control Pressure, And What Is The Price Impact?

Special Plastics Vision cites China News ServiceOctober 13 news,The current flow at the Tongguan Hydrological Station on the middle reaches of the Yellow River has reached5010 cubic meters per second triggered "Yellow River No. 1 Flood of 2025."

This flood season presents"Ultra-long standby" feature - In mid-October, typhoons in the south coincided with cold air in the north, causing continuous heavy rainfall in many areas of Henan. The Ministry of Water Resources has initiated a Level IV emergency response, and working groups from three provinces have been dispatched to the front line for guidance.

Source of image: Shanghai Observer

The latest forecast from the Henan Meteorological Observatory shows that heavy rainfall will continue untilOn the night of October 13th, starting from the 14th, it will turn to cloudy or scattered showers. During the day on the 14th, there will be light rain in the western and southern regions, while other areas will be cloudy. On the night of the 14th, the entire province will experience overcast weather with light to moderate rain, with heavy rain in some areas. In the subsequent phase, the focus of flood control will shift to replenishing consumption and routine reserves, rather than long-term large-scale emergency response.

Key Applications of Plastic Materials in Flood Control

In flood fighting and emergency rescue, PE,ABS and PP plastics, with their lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and high-strength characteristics, have become "invisible heroes."

Flood control sandbags: Traditional burlap sacks are prone to sand leakage, while modern sandbags use high-density polyester to improve sun and corrosion resistance. Water-absorbing expandable sandbags are filled with polymer resin, which expands dozens of times upon contact with water to form a gel-like water barrier. The internal tensile rope is made of polyethylene filament to enhance pressure resistance. In the Hebei bank protection project, the flexible structure combining polyethylene woven fabric mattresses with longitudinal tensile ropes successfully resisted river erosion.

Waterproof board:HDPE high-density polyethylene waterproof board is used in the high-water-pressure environment of the Shenzhen Metro; the PVC polyvinyl chloride waterproof board achieves lightweight and water resistance balance through a honeycomb structure design; the EVA ethylene-vinyl acetate waterproof board maintains elasticity in the low-temperature environment of northeastern reservoirs and forms a continuous waterproof layer through hot melt welding, with efficiency far exceeding that of concrete structures.

ABS flood barrier: Each panel weighs less than 10 kilograms; 10 panels can replace 100 sandbags and construct a 1-meter high flood wall within an hour. They are reusable and help prevent soil pollution. During the 2024 Zhengzhou Metro flood prevention drill, the design with sandbags at the bottom successfully resisted simulated flood impacts.

Rescue Equipment:The PVC assault boat is made from PVC-coated fabric as the core and formed using high-frequency welding techniques. The inner lining of the life jacket uses polyurethane foam or EVA foam material, providing a buoyancy of no less than 150N. The impeller of the bilge pump and the oil cap are mostly made of polypropylene, with heat resistance (melting point 160°C) and chemical stability ensuring long-term operation in turbid waters.

Analysis of the Impact of Yellow River Floods on Plastic Prices in Henan

Puyang Zhongyuan Petrochemical in Henan ProvinceThe production capacity of PE is 260,000 tons and that of PP is 280,000 tons, while Luoyang Petrochemical (with a PP capacity of 160,000 tons) was less affected by the disaster, and its facilities are operating normally. Although the demand for flood prevention woven bags and geotextiles has increased, according to the "Acceptance Standards for Flood Prevention Reserve Materials":

1 million flood control woven bags require only 80-100 tons of polypropylene, with the national daily production of PP filament reaching 30,000 tons, accounting for one-third of the total PP production.

In terms of flood control geotextiles, plastic woven substrate per 10,000 square meters is required.The 0.8-1.6 tons of PE/PP and 5-8 tons of short fiber needle-punched substrates are needed, while the national daily production of PE is 65,000 tons and PP is 90,000 tons, which can fully cover the flood control demand. The materials reserved by the national and local material reserve bureaus will play a role in allocation, preventing significant shortages. Therefore, the subsequent demand for emergency materials will have a limited impact on driving up raw material prices.

This game against the flood proves that the scientific use of high-performance plastic materials is key to building a flood prevention safety barrier. From sandbags to modular water-blocking panels, from traditional waterproofing to polymer composite materials, plastic technology is transforming."Invisible heroes" steadfastly safeguard safety. Adequate production capacity reserves and a reasonable material allocation mechanism further ensure that flood control materials are "available and do not increase in price," which is both a victory of technological progress and a reflection of governance capability.