国际品牌推动中国回收包装需求
近年来，再生塑料市场正由传统的低价替代向环保减碳等方面推动的高品质回收与再利用转变。阿格斯就大家比较关心的几个问题在由拾柴环境主办的第二届硬塑回收峰会前对国龙环保董事长郭家万和拾柴的创始人王韧进行了访谈：
- 中国再生塑料出口前景
- 再生塑料的食品接触应用
- 欧盟一次性塑料指令中的“镜像条款”等
您认为出口市场对您的产品有多少需求（以及针对哪些产品 - rPET、rHDPE、 rPP? 包装等级？ ) ...主要出口市场是什么？
国龙郭家万：再生塑料市场应用主要是国际品牌客户的需求，大品牌企业对环保再生产品的使用，是主动履行社会责任，通过企业的行动推动废旧塑料的回收利用。在中国市场上 国际品牌企业在这两年来一直在测试，小批量试用再生塑料，在东南亚港澳市场上开始投送再生塑料包装产品，也有很多国际品牌企业生产基地在中国，他们的出口产品基本开始使用再生塑料，在日化领域是以rHDPE、rPP为主，在食品包装上是以rPET为主而且都是需要达到食品级要求，并需要取得FDA、EFSA认证！
大多数参与者都在关注回收的食品接触材料，但中国目前不允许在食品接触应用中使用回收材料。在这种情况下，中国回收商应如何发展业务?热解是否是中国回收商的合适途径?
拾柴环境王韧：目前，中国PET回收企业的高价值产品应用主要方向是纺织纤维，工业丝和其他非食品级应用，食品级rPET产品也可以满足一些个人护理产品的特殊需求，其他食品级rPET供应还包括出口中国香港和海外市场。
热裂解在中国还在探索阶段，今年国内宣布了几个商业化项目的建设，但其运行仍有待时日，仍需市场验证。今年8月27-28日我们在上海会有一个国际硬质聚烯烃回收峰会，其中就有化学回收和热解的相关议题，大家有兴趣的可以关注参与。
欧盟正在考虑在《一次性塑料指令》中加入“镜像条款”。这意味着，欧盟外的回收商向欧盟出口材料并希望这些材料计入欧盟再生含量目标时,将被要求达到与欧洲回收商相同的原料、工艺和环境标准。你预计这一政策会如何发展?你认为这会对你的业务产生什么影响?
国龙郭家万：对于国龙再生塑料来说是没有难度的，因为国龙再生的工艺技术，生产设备，环境标准都是与欧洲相同的，也是使用消费后PCR原料，这几年来，我们经过了二十多家国际品牌公司对产品的检测，验厂，生产环境等各项要求测试，安全达到他们的要求，镜像条款对于国龙再生来说是可以做到的。但对于中国很多再生企业恐怕一定的限制。如果欧盟推动这个政策，也许会通过验厂验证“一企一策”的认证许可。
作为国内回收行业的领先企业，国龙未来的发展目标是什么，近期是否有计划投资化学法回收领域?
国龙郭家万：国龙再生经过十年的发展，现在已经建立了相当大的产能，为一系列不同的用途生产回收材料(见表)。我们成功实施了涵盖食品级和工业级产品的全产业链商业模式。
| Recycling type | Capacity (t/yr) |
| Food-grade rPET | 60,000 |
| Food-grade rHDPE | 20,000 |
| Food-grade rPP | 20,000 |
| Pipe grade recyclates | 80,000 |
| Industrial grade rHDPE | 20,000 |
您是否预计在不久的将来中国食品包装市场将开始发展再生材料市场(即法规变化)?您预计中国还会出现哪些法规变化来支持回收行业?
拾柴环境王韧：中国正在研究包装应用再生材料的安全性，这不仅仅包括再生塑料，还包括再生金属，比如易拉罐是否可以使用再生铝。本地市场也在等待相关的文件出台。
目前，国家已经出台以旧换新政策，反向发票开票政策等等，都对回收行业扩大起到促进作用，相信在垃圾分类领域，可能将是后期政府政策出台的方向。当然，建立完整的回收体系需要更多实施战略，以及更多时间来摸索发展路径和进行建设。
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Petrocuyo dismisses Ensenada shutdown speculation
Petrocuyo dismisses Ensenada shutdown speculation
Sao Paulo, 21 August (Argus) — Argentinian polypropylene (PP) producer Petrocuyo has denied market rumors that its Ensenada plant will shut down indefinitely, saying the facility is scheduled only for a routine maintenance turnaround expected to last around two to three weeks. A company source told Argus that reports circulating in the market about a broader production stoppage were "totally incorrect" and stressed that the company was planning only a short maintenance outage. The source added that Petrocuyo has sufficient inventories to cover customer requirements and does not expect any significant impact on sales or regional supply during the maintenance period. The clarification comes amid heightened market speculation over the status of the Ensenada facility, given the importance of the facility within Argentina's polypropylene supply chain. According to the company source, operations outside the planned turnaround continue normally and the producer is not undertaking any extraordinary measures beyond its usual maintenance activities. The market reaction reflects broader uncertainty across the global polymers industry. Polypropylene producers in Latin America continue to face pressure from weak demand growth, abundant international supply and aggressive competition from imported material, particularly from Asia. These conditions have compressed margins across the value chain and fueled concerns whenever production outages emerge in the region. For Petrocuyo, however, the maintenance appears to be operational rather than structural. The company source said inventory levels remain adequate and downplayed the likelihood of any meaningful disruption to the market. The source also suggested that some of the rumors may stem from misinterpretations of routine maintenance activities in an environment already marked by oversupply and intense competition. Market participants are expected to continue monitoring the outage closely, given Petrocuyo's position as Argentina's sole polypropylene producer. While the Ensenada site is an important supplier of homopolymer PP to the domestic market, the company also operates its Luján de Cuyo plant in Mendoza, which remains in operation and produces a broader range of polypropylene grades. By Fred Fernandes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Europe PE: Market awaits clearer direction for Sep
Europe PE: Market awaits clearer direction for Sep
London, 21 August (Argus) — The European polyethylene (PE) market was calm this week as the summer lull continued to weigh on trading activity. Many market participants were away from their desks, with seasonal holiday closures at many converters' plants also reducing prompt restocking needs – with pockets of prebuying in July also covering some buyers' requirements for August and early September. Many buyers remain in a wait-and-see mode awaiting clearer direction for September pricing. Seasonal restocking activity is expected to pick up in September, and has kept many sellers optimistic of targeting increases in PE prices in the coming weeks. Some sellers have reported pre-buying demand for September from converters looking to hedge against any increases in short term prices. But the demand picture is expected to become clearer in the coming weeks on whether any meaningful support to fundamentals is seen, which could help PE producers widen margins. Upstream crude prices firmed this week after the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran lapsed, and with vessel traffic through the strait of Hormuz dropping to a record low. Naphtha prompt's price also rose to €675/t on 20 August, from €650/t on 14 August. Naphtha has so far averaged €11/t lower in August – compared with the July average of €656/t – but could moderate to just a €2/t decrease in the average by the end of the month. This backdrop will set the stage for next week's negotiations of feedstock ethylene's September monthly contract price (MCP). Conditions remain challenging in many downstream value chains, which has kept converters mostly err on the side of caution. Import arbitrages remain workable from the US for HDPE and LLDPE grades, and have continued to set the spot price floor in the European market. And with spot prices remaining at wide gaps to contract prices, some buyers held the view of limited upside risk on PE pricing and keeping procurement confined to a need-to basis. Some reports were also heard of competitive offers from the Middle East but logistical bottlenecks persist on shipping from Red Sea ports – particularly with vessel congestion at the port of Jeddah. Converters are also mindful of inventory risks further ahead in the fourth quarter in case of any bearish developments in pricing. There have been some differences between the PE grades, however, with some strengthening seen in LDPE fundamentals. A producer in the Netherlands was heard to have declared force majeure on LDPE supplies earlier in August, which has resulted in tighter supplies on the part of other sellers. Some producers reported being sold out on LDPE volumes for delivery August. And with LDPE supply dynamics being more domestic in the European market, this could continue to lend support to LDPE prices going into September. Low water levels in the Rhine and Danube rivers have continued to affect operating rates at many crackers and polymer plants inland in Europe. Outages persist at some PE plants in central-eastern Europe, and force majeure on supplies remain in place from some plants in that region. This has contributed in keeping PE prices in central-eastern Europe at a premium to northwest Europe and the Mediterranean regions. Against the backdrop of ethylene's August MCP settling at a €42.50/t increase from the July MCP, some PE producers sought as much as €100/t increases in their freely negotiated PE contract prices. Buyers pushed back against any increases in their freely negotiated PE contract prices, arguing these remain disconnected to spot prices and the global market. Settlements were reported in wide ranges, but were concluded at price rollovers in many cases – except for LDPE grades. Some producers reported settlements at increases matching the increase in ethylene's August MCP, while steeper increases of up to €100/t were also reported for LDPE grades. Some buyers also reported securing €20-30/t decreases in their freely negotiated HDPE and LLDPE contract prices, in instances where underlying prices were relatively high. Negotiations are ongoing in some cases for LDPE and LLDPE contracts. For all HDPE grades, the Argus deltas for August were assessed at rollovers. For LDPE and LLDPE butene, the Argus deltas for August will be assessed next week. Spot prices of all HDPE grades and of LLDPE butene were assessed stable this week. It remains to be seen if sellers' targets of securing higher prices for September-delivery volumes come to fruition in the coming weeks. The spot price of LDPE was assessed €50/t higher at €1,200-1,300/t ddp northwest Europe. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Pyrolysis can optimise: CRE
Pyrolysis can optimise: CRE
The cost gap between circular and virgin polymers will narrow over time, but only with investment and regulatory change London, 21 August (Argus) — Pyrolysis yields will improve as the industry matures, boosting availability of circular polymers and reducing the cost gap to virgin polymers, industry association Chemical Recycling Europe (CRE) president and Dutch technology company BlueAlp chief executive Valentijn de Neve tells Argus. "We've already come a long way by influencing the process conditions that mean you minimise gas production, maximise oil production and integrate gas fractions into downstream units to make sure they do not become fuels but become materials," de Neve says. Recouping plastic-derived pyrolysis oil from char and bitumen fractions produced by pyrolysis units, or using them as a standalone product, can also help, he adds. A recent paper by the EU's Joint Research Committee (JRC) stated that circular polymers likely need to cost around three times more than virgin polymers on average for the industry to sustain its costs. CRE's view is that such a large cost gap is similar to that seen in other nascent sustainability transition industries and will narrow over time and with investment, de Neve says. "The JRC rightfully says that circular is more expensive than virgin and that incentives, penalties and enforcements are required to build up capacity," de Neve says. But "CRE thinks this report misses what is possible in terms of development of that price", because the data it uses was gathered from early facilities and it does not factor in improvements in operating rates, scaled-up technologies and innovative business models that various CRE members of are using, he adds. Attracting investment will be the next challenge. European pyrolysis capacity will have to expand by 6-8 times from current rates in order to provide the 10pc recycled content for non-PET contact sensitive plastic packaging by 2030 that the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) dictates, Argus Consulting says. This necessary scale of expansion far outweighs the current announced project pipeline, Argus data show. But de Neve is confident that there are more than enough projects in the pre-final investment decision stage to meet demand, if investors can be persuaded to pull the trigger and plants can be ramped up to target operating rates. "Operating rates will be sufficient" but regulators need to create an environment that persuades would-be investors to commit, he says. "A couple of pieces of secondary legislation are needed… we need mass balance fast, we need clarity around the enforcement in the right way, and we need... European materials to have a level playing field," he says. One commonly cited regulatory hurdle of PPWR for the industry is its so-called revision clause, which gives the European Commission options to enact changes, delays or exemptions to the 10pc recycled content requirement if it thinks it cannot be achieved. Under the regulation, the commission has until February 2028 to make a final decision. The JRC report represents a positive early sign that the commission thinks enough capacity can be built under the right market and regulatory circumstances, strengthening the case against changes to the regulation, de Neve says. The JRC report is "very clear that building the capacity needed for this regulation is not the issue", he says. BlueAlp is seeing particular interest in developing projects with its technology from private-sector financial institutions and waste management companies, de Neve says. Petrochemicals companies and downstream consumers such as brand owners are also active across the wider industry, he says. However, demand for circular polymers has been weak in the past 12 months. Whether because of regulatory uncertainty, cost cutting or low confidence in the robustness of the supply chain, many converters are in no rush to switch to using more chemically recycled materials in packaging. The pyrolysis industry is going through a tough period, and finding ways to bring demand forward ahead of the 2030 target is key if it is be achieved, de Neve says. "In 2030, there's the mandatory demand for circular content, and today it's a voluntary market. And between now and 2030, that's a time that we all need to bridge", he says. Extended producer responsibility measures with discounts for circular content are a positive step, he says. And a proposal for companies to be able to count recycled content used before 2030 towards their PPWR obligations from that date, which de Neve describes as "pragmatic", is gaining momentum within the industry — although it so far remains unclear whether regulators are open to such a move. "I think the good news is that from waste all the way to brand owners and financial institutions, there's a willingness to invest in this sector and we could attract more capital the moment the rules of the game are further clarified. And with that, I actually am quite optimistic on what is planned for the next eight months in terms of secondary legislation," he says. De Neve was speaking on the Argus Chemical Conversations podcast, "Can pyrolysis develop in time for PPWR?", which is available on the Argus website and podcasting apps. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Texas court authorizes Braskem Idesa funding
Texas court authorizes Braskem Idesa funding
Sao Paulo, 21 August (Argus) — The US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas has authorized Mexico-based petrochemical producer Braskem Idesa's initial Chapter 11 requests, including access to debtor-in-possession financing intended to support the company's operations during its financial restructuring. The case, filed on 17 August, is proceeding before Judge Christopher M. Lopez in the Houston division. Braskem Idesa filed for Chapter 11 protection to implement a restructuring plan negotiated with key creditor groups and other stakeholders. Court filings state that the company intends to preserve business continuity while restructuring its balance sheet through the US bankruptcy process. Braskem Idesa said in a declaration submitted in support of the filing that its financial difficulties resulted from a prolonged downturn in the global petrochemicals sector, compressed industry margins since 2022 and reduced ethane availability for its Etileno XXI petrochemical complex in Veracruz state, Mexico. The complex had to rely increasingly on imported ethane, raising operating costs and placing additional pressure on liquidity, it said. Court records show that Braskem Idesa sought authority to obtain post-petition financing, use cash collateral and provide lenders with the protections typically associated with DIP facilities. The company argued that immediate access to additional liquidity was necessary to preserve asset value, maintain commercial relationships and support ongoing operations throughout the Chapter 11 process. Braskem Idesa, a joint venture between Brazil's Braskem (75pc) and Mexico's Grupo Idesa (25pc), also disclosed in court filings that it received financial support from its shareholders before the Chapter 11 filing, including emergency financing facilities provided by entities affiliated with Braskem. Separately, Braskem told investors that it expects to remain the controlling shareholder of Braskem Idesa following completion of the restructuring. The Brazilian petrochemicals producer said it supports the Mexican subsidiary's restructuring plan and the financing measures designed to strengthen liquidity and facilitate implementation of the reorganization. The development comes as Braskem pursues a broader financial restructuring aimed at restoring a sustainable capital structure amid a prolonged global petrochemical downturn. Braskem is separately negotiating with creditors to strengthen its capital structure. The company reported recurring Ebitda of R5.25bn ($1.04bn) and profit of R3.33bn in the second quarter, supported by stronger petrochemical prices and wider polyethylene spreads in Brazil and Mexico. Sao Paulo-based Braskem operates production assets in Brazil, the US, Mexico and Europe, serving customers in more than 70 countries. By Fred Fernandes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.