Market Flash

Ascend Performance Materials has officially commenced high-purity acrylonitrile production at its Chocolate Bayou plant in Alvin, Texas, following the successful installation and commissioning of new purification systems.

Prestige Japanese beauty brand SUQQU is turning heads with a sustainable breakthrough, launching its latest compact setting powder using Eastman’s Cristal™ One copolyester.

With millions of mattresses discarded each year, each containing 15–20 kg of foam, the environmental impact is enormous. But recent innovations are beginning to transform this persistent waste into valuable resources.

Nissan is embarking on its most radical overhaul in over a decade, announcing plans to slash 20,000 jobs and shut down 7 factories worldwide by fiscal 2027.

The world’s top five Western oil companies reported a combined net profit of $20.53 billion for Q1 2025, plunging 29% year-on-year.

In a major breakthrough, China and the United States jointly announced on May 12 a significant rollback of punitive tariffs, following high-level trade talks held in Geneva from May 10 to 11.

A fresh wave of tariff hikes between the US and China is sending shockwaves through the global coatings industry. Starting April 2, the United States imposed reciprocal tariffs on goods from over 60 countries, with most facing a 10% surcharge.

Chugoku Marine Paints (CMP) reported robust growth for its 2024 fiscal year, with net profit surging 38.7% year-on-year to JPY 137.21 billion (approximately USD 925 million).

The biopharma industry is facing a wave of restructurings and layoffs, with more than 14,000 job cuts reported in 2024, and the situation appears to be worsening in 2025.

Gilead Sciences will pay $202 million to resolve allegations that it paid unlawful incentives to doctors for prescribing high-cost HIV medications.

As China’s coatings market slows and overcapacity worsens, global and domestic paint manufacturers are under unprecedented pressure.

Kraton Corporation announced a strategic realignment of its business to enhance core strengths and drive long-term growth.

• Kraton

Church & Dwight announced plans to acquire Touchland®, a hand sanitizer brand, in a transaction valued at up to $880 million, including a $700 million upfront payment and an earn-out payment tied to net sales in 2025.

• Church & Dwight
• Touchland

On May 7, Axalta posted its Q1 2025 financial results, revealing a 3% decline in net sales to $1.26 billion, as foreign exchange headwinds weighed on performance.

On May 8, Solvay released its Q1 2025 financial results, revealing a 5.8% organic decline in net sales, down to €1.122 billion compared to the same period in 2024.

Zhongxin Co., Ltd. (603091.SH) has been hit with a preliminary anti-dumping duty of 470.63% by the U.S. Department of Commerce, as part of an investigation into thermoformed molded fiber products from China and Vietnam.

Novopor Advanced Science has acquired US-based Pressure Chemical Company (PCC), known for its expertise in high pressure and specialty chemicals, for an undisclosed sum, according to a company press statement.

• Novopor Advanced Science
• PCC
• specialty chemicals

Beautypro, a British beauty brand, has acquired British skincare brand Skin Sapiens for an undisclosed sum.

• Beautypro
• Skin Sapiens

On May 6, 2025, India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued a final affirmative ruling in its first sunset review of anti-dumping duties on black toner powder originating from China, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

The UK’s HMRC has announced a pivotal reform to the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) that will take effect from April 2027, introducing two significant shifts likely to reshape the plastic packaging landscape.