Market Flash

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation's leading health official, is taking decisive steps to enhance oversight of chemicals in the U.S. food supply as part of his "Make America Healthy Again" initiative.

Bio-Thera Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced that it has received a resignation letter from Liu Cuihua, a non-independent director and vice president, who has stepped down for personal reasons.

On February 14, 2025, Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency announced the successful safety review of a transgenic polyphenol oxidase developed by Novozymes, a Danish biotechnology company.

Novo Nordisk has experienced another setback as it released disappointing data from its late-stage trial for CagriSema, a new obesity treatment. On March 11, 2025, the company reported that the results from the REDEFINE 2 trial did not meet market expecta

The Indian pharmaceutical sector, particularly Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs), is poised to withstand the impact of proposed 10-25% tariffs from the United States, according to a recent report by B&K Securities.

On March 3, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office (USTR) announced a significant legislative proposal that could alter the trade landscape between the United States and China.

In a surprising move, Li Ka-Shing, once the richest man in Asia, has announced the sale of 43 global ports, including critical locations such as the Panama Canal ports of Cristobal and Balboa.

On March 7, the General Administration of Customs released the latest trade statistics, revealing that in the first two months of 2025, China's total exports reached $539.9 billion, marking a 2.3% year-on-year increase.

Kronos, a leading titanium dioxide supplier, released its 2024 financial report, showcasing a strong performance over the past year.

Carmine (also known as Natural Red 4, CI 75470 or E120) is a deep red pigment widely used in cosmetics, food and textiles. It is made from carminic acid, which is extracted from a variety of insect species, including the cochineal insect.

• Carmine
• Debut Biotechnology

Thermax Chemical Solutions Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thermax, has entered into an exclusive shareholders' agreement with Oswaldo Cruz Química Indústria e Comércio Ltda (OCQ)

• Thermax
• OCQ

Indonesia has unveiled a major upgrade to its energy strategy, announcing plans to build multiple refineries across its archipelago with a combined capacity of 1 million barrels per day.

• Indonesia
• multiple refineries

On March 5, 2025, Honeywell announced its agreement to acquire Sundyne from private equity firm Warburg Pincus for $2.16 billion in cash. This acquisition is valued at approximately 14.5 times Sundyne's projected EBITDA for 2024.

On February 14, 2025, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) granted approval for a new processing aid derived from a genetically modified strain and a genetically modified beet for food applications.

On March 8, 2025, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced a significant retaliatory measure against Canada's discriminatory tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and metal products.

In a strategic move to enhance its onco-dermatology offerings, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has announced its acquisition of Checkpoint Therapeutics for an impressive $355 million.

According to a notification from the Indian Ministry of Finance, India will impose anti-dumping duties of up to $986 per ton for five years on a chemical used for water treatment imported from China and Japan.

• trichloroisocyanuric acid
• india
• china
• Japan

Sumitomo Chemical will begin selling polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a polymer material made from methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomers produced through chemical recycling.

• Sumitomo chemical

CPL Aromas announces a major update to its innovative AromaCore Bio technology. With its expanded capabilities, AromaCore Bio is now compatible with personal care applications.

• CPL Aromas
• AromaCore Bio

Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry reveals that South Korea's food export value has experienced a remarkable 8% annual growth from 2015 to 2024, with instant noodles emerging as a key export product.