Market Flash

Perstorp and sister company BRB, under the strategic umbrella of PETRONAS Chemicals Group (PCG) Specialty Chemicals, officially launched a state-of-the-art innovation center in Shanghai on April 17.

Celanese Corporation is shaking up its strategy with several bold decisions announced in early May.

In a pivotal decision on April 30, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) delivered a split outcome for epoxy resin exporters from five countries and regions.

INEOS and Covestro have signed an 8-year LNG supply agreement starting in 2027, marking a strategic step toward securing Europe’s industrial energy resilience.

Metpack has launched a home-compostable coated paper solution certified under EN 13432 and AS 5810, offering a new benchmark in sustainable food packaging.

On May 5, 2025, Celanese Corporation unveiled a decisive shift in strategy, announcing the divestiture of its Micromax® electronic materials business, a move aligned with its goal to boost cash generation and reduce leverage.

Orion SA has announced that Reciend Group will serve as distributor for its line of specialty carbon black products in Peru.

• Orion SA

Private equity firm Astorg will take over from TA Associates as the majority shareholder of Solabia Group. However, TA will reinvest in the Solabia Group and work with Astorg to support Solabia in executing its growth plans.

• Astorg
• Solabia

Lotte Chemical Indonesia has signed a 10-year contract to supply ethylene, a core raw material in the petrochemical industry, to Asahimas Chemical for use in various downstream manufacturing processes.

• Lotte chemical
• ethylene

Sumitomo Corporation has established a joint venture with NFC Public Company Limited, a tank terminal operator in Thailand, to operate sulfuric acid tank terminal business.

• Sumitomo Corporation
• NFC

On April 30, 2025, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced an updated safety assessment of acesulfame K (E 950), a synthetic sweetener widely used in the EU.

As patent cliffs loom and pricing scrutiny intensifies, pharmaceutical giants are doubling down on innovation pipelines and international expansion.

China’s drug regulator has suspended imports of digoxin API from Indian firm VITAL LABORATORIES PVT. LTD., citing serious quality control lapses discovered during a recent on-site inspection.

On May 2, 2025, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released a scientific opinion on the safety of Clostridium butyricum TO-A, a probiotic proposed as a novel food ingredient in dietary supplements.

Argentina will eliminate export taxes on 4,411 commodities, including cosmetics and personal care products. The country aims to strengthen its economy and promote international exports and trade.

• Argentina
• export taxes

On April 23, 2025, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a critical update regarding the food additive silver (E174), stating that it is unable to confirm its safety due to serious data shortcomings.

On April 29, 2025, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a pivotal scientific opinion confirming the safety of expanding the use of 3-Fucosyllactose (3-FL) in multiple food products.

Over the past three months, Trump’s volatile trade stance has kept China’s pharmaceutical exporters on edge.

Coinciding with this milestone, the company also made a strong impression at the 2025 Pakistan Polyurethane and Coatings Expo, where it unveiled a range of cutting-edge innovations and system-level solutions in polyurethane and coatings.

In a significant escalation of U.S.-China financial tensions, two Republican lawmakers have urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to delist 25 Chinese companies, including major firms such as Alibaba Group, Baidu, JD.com, and Weibo.