Market Flash

On July 31, Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced draft Notification No. 340-2025, proposing significant amendments to the hygiene requirements for special sanitary management foods.

On July 28, Brazil’s health authority ANVISA issued IN No. 385, revising maximum residue limits (MRLs) for several pesticides in common foods.

Syndax Pharmaceuticals posted a second-quarter net loss of $71.8 million ($0.83 per share), exceeding last year’s $68.1 million loss, even as revenue from key therapies soared.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ bid to expand into non-opioid pain treatments was dealt a heavy blow as its next-generation drug VX-993 failed a critical mid-stage trial, triggering a sharp 14.4% after-hours share drop.

A powerful explosion rocked a cosmetics ingredient factory in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea at 12:42 PM on August 3, injuring three workers—one critically—and leaving another missing.

Bridgestone has announced the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary, Mexican Carbon Black Manufacturing (MXCB), to Cabot Corporation for $70 million, with the deal expected to close within 3 to 6 months.

On August 1, China Shenhua Energy announced plans for a sweeping restructuring, with the listed company set to acquire 13 subsidiaries from its parent, China Energy Group, through a mix of share issuance and cash payment.

On August 6, President Trump revealed a landmark US-Pakistan trade and energy agreement set to reshape energy cooperation and lower tariffs on Pakistani exports to the US.

Luoyang Refining has announced the successful full-scale start-up of its high-end rubber additives project, part of the massive one-million-ton ethylene downstream integration initiative in Henan.

French agribusiness leader Avril Group and global specialty chemicals company Valtris have entered into an exclusive agreement for Avril to acquire Champlor Renewables, a rapeseed crushing, refining, and biodiesel production facility.

• Avril
• Valtris
• Champlor Renewables

Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem) has officially commissioned the low-viscosity polyalphaolefin (LV PAO) capacity expansion at its Beringen production facility in Belgium.

• CPChem
• Chevron Phillips Chemical

Amid a global downturn in the petrochemical industry, South Korea's third-largest ethylene producer, Yeochun NCC Co., Ltd. (YNCC), is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Industry insiders reveal that if the company fails to secure 310 billion KRW

• YNCC
• Hanwha Solutions
• DL chemical

On August 7, 2025, in Mumbai, Oil India Limited (OIL) and IREL (India) Limited formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance cooperation in the exploration and development of critical minerals.

• Oil India Limited
• IREL
• critical minerals

Graphjet Technology has announced a significant advancement in catalytic graphitization for producing high-quality synthetic graphite through its proprietary green graphite technology.

• Graphjet

SkinCeuticals has introduced the AGE Interrupter Ultra Serum, a dual-patent innovation developed to visibly lift and firm lax skin—a top concern among dermatology patients.

• SkinCeuticals

DIC Corporation is committed to providing unique solutions in the field of "chemical electronics," focusing on semiconductor packaging materials and cutting-edge electronic components, anticipating future growth in demand for these materials.

• DIC corporation

NCP Coatings LLC, a manufacturer of industrial and military-grade coatings, has acquired Glyptal Inc., a well-established producer of high-performance insulating enamels serving the electrical and automotive sectors.

• NCP Coatings
• Glyptal

DKSH, a leading global specialty chemicals distributor, recently announced the completion and official opening of its High-Performance Materials Innovation Center in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

• DKSH

Axplora, a global pharmaceutical raw material supplier, recently announced an additional €6.5 million investment in its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh, India.

• Axplora

Venator, a supplier of specialty chemicals and ingredients, recently released its newly formulated titanium dioxide pigment, TIOXIDE® TR85.

• Venator
• TIOXIDE®