Policies and Regulations

Date of policy milestone:  July 1, 2026 Authority:  Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China (MEE) 1. Overview of the policy China has announced that from July 1, 2026 , the polyurethane foam industry will be prohibited from producing products using HCFC-141b as a blowing agent .This move is part of China’s obligations under: the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer the national plan to ph

In an era when global capital allocation is undergoing a structural shift, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)  is no longer just about corporate responsibility — it has become the core driver of long-term competitiveness and value creation . According to the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance (GSIA) , global sustainable investment assets reached USD 30.3 trillion in 2022 , and are projected to exceed USD 40 trillion by 2030 . This massive reallocation of capital

1. Background Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of fluorinated organic chemicals known for their chemical stability,...

1. DuPont 2025 Financial Guidance Downgrade & Aramids Divestiture Date:  September 18, 2025 Event:  DuPont lowered its 2025 net sales...

Global Overview (Key Highlights) Since 2025, capital has not withdrawn across the board but has shifted toward a more selective,...

Rising labor compliance costs hit labor-intensive segments while creating long-term opportunities in high-tech and strategic operations

In August 2025, the European Union announced the launch of the “Critical Chemicals Alliance” , aiming to secure stable supplies of essential chemicals, reduce import dependency, and boost domestic production capacity.Key measures include:

In August 2025 , multiple Chinese ministries jointly issued new policy guidelines aimed at accelerating strategic industrial development. The initiative focuses on:

1. Policy & International Negotiations Global Plastic Pollution Treaty Talks What happened:  Sixth round of UN negotiations in Geneva  on...

Why the Global Plastics Treaty Could Be 2025’s Most Transformative Policy for Industry and Investors In August 2025, over 180 countries...

Industry Highlights 1. LyondellBasell Misses Q2 Earnings LyondellBasell reported lower-than-expected Q2 earnings at $0.62/share, missing...

Metals: Price Trends & Drivers Copper  has emerged as the hottest commodity of 2025, with U.S. copper futures up 26%, reaching ~$5.02/lb....

Regional Outlook, Policy Impact & Corporate Strategy Target keywords:   2025 chemical market performance, global energy trends, regional...

1. Background Overview In March 2025, the U.S. government issued an executive order formally declaring that carbon dioxide (CO₂) is no...

I. Core Industry News 1. Global Petrochemical Industry Restructuring Accelerates Major chemical players like Dow, LyondellBasell, Shell,...

Industry & Corporate News Dow’s European Plant Closures Dow will permanently shut three European chemical plants—an ethylene cracker in...

Policy Snapshot July 9, 2025 marks the end of the 90-day grace period for new U.S. tariffs announced in April. The U.S. has confirmed...

1. Beijing cracks down on “involution” and disorderly pricing On July 8, China’s leadership sharply criticized excessive competition—termed “involution”—and signaled imminent supply-side reforms  targeting industries like solar panels and EVs, aiming to regulate prices and deaden overcapacity .

High inflation, geopolitical shifts, and industrial policy divergence   are reshaping global investment dynamics in 2025. But while macro...

Market Trends & Corporate Moves BASF, SABIC, Linde Pilot Electric Cracking BASF, SABIC, and Linde launched a large-scale electric steam...