Korea's petrochemical paradox: export value up 18.8%, volumes down 14.6% – Global Corporate News Digest, 7 Jul 2026

Polymer & Rubber Capacity Moves

Sumitomo folds its polyolefins into Prime Polymer — Japan's PP consolidation goes live

Kumho Petrochemical piles into SSBR, EPDM and MDI — The EV-tyre material race accelerates

Berjaya and Wanli's Trusmax plan a RM1.3-billion tyre plant in Malaysia

Global Trade, Supply Chains & Logistics

Korea's petrochemical paradox: export value up 18.8%, volumes down 14.6%

Panama Canal cuts Neopanamax drafts twice more — Chemical logistics risk is back on the table

Turkmenistan approves a new production line at the Balkanabat iodine plant

Policy, Regulation & Market Governance

China's six-department crackdown puts hazardous chemicals at the centre of a national enforcement drive

PhosAgro's AGM votes nil dividend for 2025 — With a fifth of votes cast against

Canada completes its re-evaluation of iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium — Continued registration, updated labels

Specialty Chemicals & Innovation

Shengquan lifts PPO/PPE oligomer prices 15–20% from July 13 — Electronics resins catch the geopolitical bid

Avient launches a non-PFAS solvent barrier for HDPE bottles — A drop-in answer to the fluorination squeeze

Consumer & Sustainability Watch

Nestlé to strip artificial colours from its global portfolio by end-2026

Tyres Europe wants the Industrial Accelerator Act rewritten around European-made tyres