Market Analysis

China's plastic products output increased 3.9% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, with eastern provinces continuing to dominate national production, official data showed.

China's pharmaceutical trade reached $49.13B in Q1 2026, up 4.22% YoY, with exports rising faster than imports as medical devices and drug formulations drove growth and boosted global competitiveness.

China's styrene operating rates climbed to the highest level of 2026 in April, with output rising 19.36% year-on-year, while May production is expected to decline due to major maintenance shutdowns.

Global oil and gas M&A activity in 2026 is shifting toward natural gas assets, Canadian oil sands and secondary basins, as major energy companies retreat from mega-mergers and focus on strategic consolidation.

The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled Trump's 10% Section 122 global tariff illegal, paving the way for tariff refunds as Washington accelerates new Section 301 investigations.

Japan's chemical imports from China jumped in March as Middle East supply disruptions hit domestic output, raising concerns over long-term reliance on lower-cost Chinese materials and industry competitiveness.

Europe‘s petrochemical sector centers on the ARA hub and Rhine corridor, with Antwerp, Rotterdam and Ludwigshafen driving supply chains as high energy costs and carbon rules push a shift toward low-carbon production.