Market Flash

Regulators in Europe and Asia are ratcheting up trade defenses in the chemicals sector.

China’s titanium dioxide (TiO₂) imports have dropped sharply even as domestic suppliers raise prices.

China’s chemical manufacturing industry posted a total profit of ¥2133.9 billion (approximately ¥213.39 billion) for the first seven months of 2025 .

China’s Ministry of Commerce has decided to continue imposing anti-dumping tariffs on imported phenol originating from the United States, European Union, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand .

China’s polystyrene (PS) producers have seen a stunning reversal of fortunes.

The ABS resin market is reeling from a steep downturn even before the usual autumn demand surge.

China’s polycarbonate (PC) sector is grappling with massive new capacity and low-end product oversupply, pressuring profits.

August saw PVC prices under persistent downward pressure, with the market oscillating weakly .

On August 28, 2025, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released a public consultation (No. PC-1582) proposing to approve triacylglycerol lipase for use as a food additive .

EFSA’s experts have evaluated a food enzyme called bacillolysin produced by a non-GM strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (strain AGS 430) and found no safety concerns for its wider use .

EFSA has completed a peer review of the pesticide risk assessment for prothioconazole, an active fungicide ingredient .

European authorities issued rapid alerts regarding two Chinese food exports that failed to meet standards.

On August 4, 2025, EFSA’s Panel on Additives and Products in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) released a scientific opinion on a lavender flower tincture used as a sensory feed additive for all animal species.

The U.S. FDA approved Sanofi’s BTK inhibitor Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) to treat adult persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who failed prior therapies—a milestone from Sanofi’s $3.7B Principia acquisition.

With the successful startup of its 15 kt Forane 1233zd production unit in Calvert City, Kentucky, Arkema continues to develop its low-global warming potential (GWP) fluorospecialties to meet the growing demand for more sustainable solutions.

• Arkema

Kao Corporation has opened a new tertiary amine production facility in Pasadena, Texas, with an annual capacity of 20,000 tons. The plant is designed to strengthen Kao’s ability to meet the growing demand in the U.S. market.

• Kao
• tertiary amine

Air Liquide has signed a binding agreement with Macquarie Asia Infrastructure Fund 2 to acquire DIG Airgas, a leading South Korean industrial gas company, for an enterprise value of €2.85 billion.

• Air Liquide
• DIG Airgas

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has announced a voluntary recall in the US, pulling more than 88,000 bottles of Carvedilol (a high blood pressure drug) and 22,656 bottles of Theophylline (used for COPD) from the market.

According to the latest Genial/Quaest poll, Brazilian President Lula’s disapproval rating has dropped to 51%—the lowest since January—while approval has climbed to 46%.

On August 14, 2025, the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Authority approved a new sweetener produced using a genetically modified bacterial strain.