PET Bottles Recycling – China’s Ministry of Commerce declared the imposition of anti-dumping duties on Taiwanese polycarbonate imports, effective from April 20 for five years 29-04-2024
PET Bottles Recycling
r-PET Packaging – Polymer prices: Upward trend continues due to higher feedstock costs
Crude Oil Prices Trend
Crude Oil Prices Trend by Polyestertime
Axpo and electric utility Rhiienergie have inaugurated Switzerland’s largest green hydrogen production facility in Graubünden canton
Situated alongside the Reichenau hydropower plant in Domat/Ems, this 2.5-megawatt facility can generate up to 350 tonnes of green hydrogen annually. This venture marks a significant step in integrating hydrogen into the national energy landscape to enhance future supply security.
Constructed over approximately a year, this plant employs water electrolysis powered by adjacent hydroelectricity, thus producing hydrogen without CO2 emissions. The resulting hydrogen, which can offset up to 1.5 million liters of diesel each year, is compressed for easy transportation to refueling stations and industrial clients. PET Bottles Recycling
The project’s opening ceremony drew political and business leaders, including local council members, Graubünden Cantonal Councillor and Energy Minister Dr. Carmelia Maissen, and National Councillor Martin Candinas. Dr. Maissen praised the plant’s alignment with regional green hydrogen ambitions and broader climate objectives.
Both Axpo CEO Christoph Brand and Rhiienergie CEO Christian Capaul underscored the critical role of green hydrogen in sustainable energy transition. Capaul highlighted the facility’s status as a flagship project for the region. Brand acknowledged existing challenges but remained optimistic about the potential of this renewable energy resource, emphasizing its sustainability credentials. PET Bottles Recycling
TOMRA has secured long-term agreements with OMV and Borealis to supply high-quality raw materials for their recycling operations, enhancing the circular economy for plastics
Under these agreements, TOMRA Feedstock will deliver consistent feedstock to OMV’s ReOil® plants in Austria and to Borealis’ mechanical recycling facilities across Europe. Volker Rehrmann, Executive Vice President and Head of TOMRA Recycling, highlighted the significance of this collaboration in leveraging technology to reclaim post-consumer plastics, preventing their incineration and promoting reuse.
The feedstock will originate from a new, pioneering sorting facility in Germany, set to open at the end of 2025 with an annual input capacity of 80,000 metric tonnes. This facility will specialize in transforming mixed post-consumer plastic waste into clean, specific polymer types for further processing. PET Bottles Recycling
Daniela Vlad, OMV Executive Vice President Chemicals & Materials, emphasized that the agreement supports their ReOil® technology in producing sustainable materials, contributing significantly to a circular plastics economy. Meanwhile, Borealis will utilize the feedstock in its Borcycle™ M technology, creating high-performance polymers from polyolefin-based waste for diverse industries such as automotive and healthcare.
Craig Arnold, Borealis Executive Vice President, reaffirmed their commitment to increasing recycled content in products, enabling customers to enhance their use of recycled plastics. This partnership marks a substantial advancement in sustainable plastic production and recycling, signifying a major stride towards closing the loop in plastic utilization.
PET Bottles Recycling
China’s Ministry of Commerce declared the imposition of anti-dumping duties on Taiwanese polycarbonate imports, effective from April 20 for five years
The ministry’s final determination followed an investigation which confirmed that dumping by Taiwan was harming China’s polycarbonate industry. Taiwan’s exports of this material to China last year were valued at around US$830 million, constituting 78.5 percent of its total polycarbonate exports, as per Taiwan’s Customs Administration.
Polycarbonate, used in electronics, automotive, optics, packaging, medical devices, and safety equipment, was listed in the 2010 Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement between Taiwan and China. The decision to apply these duties is seen as part of China’s strategy amidst broader geopolitical tensions. PET Bottles Recycling
The anti-dumping investigation began in November 2022, with preliminary results in August indicating significant harm to the Chinese industry. Initial duties were set at up to 22.4 percent. Specific duties announced include 9 percent for Taiwan Chemical Fiber Corp and Idemitsu Chemicals Taiwan Corp, 12.2 percent for Chimei Corp and Chi Lin Technology Co., Ltd, and 22.4 percent for other firms.
Weichai, a Chinese manufacturer, has launched a diesel engine that boasts a groundbreaking energy efficiency, marking a world record
This engine achieves an intrinsic thermal efficiency of 53.09%, a significant leap from the usual 45-46%. Such efficiency has been validated by esteemed international testing organizations including TÜV SÜD and the China Automotive Research and Technology Center. PET Bottles Recycling
The improvements in thermal efficiency could potentially lower diesel engine operational costs by 14% across China, equating to an annual fuel saving of approximately 31 million tonnes and a carbon emission reduction of around 97 million tonnes. Despite these advancements, the engine’s impact on the automotive sector might be limited. Various auto manufacturers have reduced or ceased the production of diesel vehicles in response to emission scandals and environmental concerns. Additionally, the shift towards electric vehicles is gaining momentum, driven by stricter governmental regulations on diesel emissions and the enhanced capabilities and cost-efficiency of electric technologies.
These developments indicate a decreasing demand for diesel options as the automotive industry moves towards more sustainable electric alternatives, which offer better performance, greater autonomy, and reduced operational costs. PET Bottles Recycling
In early April, global prices for polyester staple fiber (PSF) experienced a significant increase, even though the costs of feedstock materials, which are essential for producing PSF, showed a decline
This price surge has been observed across major markets worldwide, challenging the usual expectations that fiber prices should align with raw material costs.
Various factors contribute to this anomaly. Firstly, disruptions in supply chains have played a crucial role. These disruptions are partly due to geopolitical tensions and logistical challenges, which have hindered the smooth flow of raw materials and finished products, leading to shortages in certain regions. Secondly, there has been a marked increase in demand for PSF, fueled by its growing use in diverse applications from clothing and upholstery to automotive interiors. This heightened demand tends to push prices up, independent of the raw material cost fluctuations. PET Bottles Recycling
Moreover, energy prices and currency exchange rates have also influenced PSF pricing. In some countries, the weakening of the local currency against the dollar has made imports more expensive, contributing to higher domestic prices for polyester fibers. Additionally, energy costs, which are critical for manufacturing, have been volatile and generally trending upwards, further complicating the cost structure for producers.
These factors combined have led to the current situation where PSF prices are rising despite a fall in feedstock costs, reflecting a complex interplay of global economic and market dynamics. PET Bottles Recycling
