Industry Trends

December 2024

See what has been happening in Asia’s plastics & rubber industries over the last weeks. What are experts and industry magazines talking about?

What has been happening?

More sustainable packaging relies on partnerships, Machine learning helps optimize polymer production, Recycled polyester fabric to be used in further in tire production, and more. Find out what plastic & rubber journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.

Latest Plastics & Rubber Articles

More sustainable packaging relies on partnerships, Dow officials say
Plastics News

Customers and consumers are looking for more circular solutions, which can require complex materials management systems and partnerships, according to two speakers from Dow Inc.’s packaging business.
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Machine learning helps optimize polymer production
Phys.org

Polymers, such as plastics, are essential in many aspects of life and industry, from packaging and cars to medical devices and optic fibers. Their value comes from diverse properties that are largely determined by their monomers—the single chemical units—that make up a polymer. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to control the chemical behavior of monomers during manufacturing to achieve a desired outcome.
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Recycled polyester fabric to be used in further Continental plants
Tire Tech International

Continental is increasing the proportion of recycled materials in its tires. More plants have recently been converted to use polyester fabric made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. This increases the recycled content of many tire lines by an average of 3%. Up to 15 PET bottles are used per tire, depending on the size of the tire. Continental presented its ContiRe.Tex technology for the first time at the end of 2021, based on PET bottles that would otherwise not be recycled.
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Bridgestone to expand three passenger car tire plants in Japan
Tire Tech International

Bridgestone Corporation has announced it is to make investments to expand capacity in three passenger car tire plants in Japan – the Hikone, Tosu and Tochigi plants – that are the main production bases for high rim diameter tires for cars in the premium segment. The collective investment will be approximately ¥27bn (US$174.8m) with expansion set to start from the beginning of 2025 and be completed by the end of 2028.
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Coca-Cola eases back on pledge for reusable packaging
Plastics News

Environmental groups are complaining that the beverage giant allegedly backed away from reusable packaging goals.
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ExxonMobil Develops High-Performance, 95% PE Recyclable Thermoformed Packaging
Plastics Technology

Working with equipment suppliers Hosokawa Alpine, Multivac Group and Eval, ExxonMobil was able to create a fully recyclable 95% PE-based thermoformed package using its latest generations of performance resins along with those of Eval. This innovation aligns with the industry’s shift toward more sustainable, circular packaging solutions that reduce environmental impact while ensuring product protection.
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Durable supramolecular plastic is fully ocean-degradable and doesn't generate microplastics
Phys.org

Researchers led by Takuzo Aida at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) have developed a new durable plastic that won’t pollute our oceans. The new material is as strong as conventional plastics and biodegradable, but what makes it special is that it breaks down in seawater. The new plastic is therefore expected to help reduce harmful microplastic pollution that accumulates in oceans and soil and eventually enters the food chain.
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Guizhou Tyre’s Vietnam factory expands again
Tyrepress.com

The third phase of the Guizhou Tyre Vietnam Factory project started on 25 November 2024. Nguyen Van Yong, chairman of the People’s Committee of Tien Giang Province, Vietnam, and Hu Zhongxiong, Secretary of the Guiyang Municipal Party Committee, attended the groundbreaking ceremony. The third phase of the Vietnam tyre manufacturing centre has a designed annual production capacity of 6 million semi-steel radial tyres.
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Thailand extends EV production deadlines
Bangkok Post

The Thai government will extend the deadline for electric vehicle (EV) makers to meet local production targets, the Board of Investment said on Wednesday.
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Floods could cut Thai rubber output by 7%
Bangkok Post

Floods in southern Thailand could cut rubber production by about 7%, the Rubber Authority of Thailand said on Tuesday.
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Vietnam expands chip packaging footprint as investors reduce China links
Reuters

Foreign companies are expanding capacity in Vietnam for testing and packaging chips while domestic firms are eyeing investments, as a shifting of industrial activity away from China gathers pace due to trade tensions with the West, executives said.
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Indonesia slammed for ‘weak’ ambitions on cutting plastic pollution
The Jakarta Post

In an official document submitted to the plastic treaty negotiation, Indonesia argued against reducing national plastic production, saying that current manufacturing capacity is not enough to fulfill the national demand of plastic products.
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Vietnam e-commerce generates 300,000 tons of packaging waste in a year

VN Express

Vietnam’s e-commerce industry has generated over 300,000 tons of packaging waste comprising cardboard, foam and plastic shockproof materials in 2023, sparking environmental concerns, according to an expert.

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Japan’s plastics firm Riken opens 2nd plant in southern Vietnam

Theinvestor.vn

Riken Vietnam Co., Ltd. on Friday inaugurated its second plant in Vietnam in the southern province of Binh Duong after 10 years of operation in the country. The $38 million facility covers 7.5 hectares in VSIP II-A Industrial Park.

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Thai packaging firm Thantawan Industry makes inroad into Vietnam

Theinvestor.vn

Thantawan Industry Public Company Limited, a leading Thai manufacturer of premium plastic packaging, has inked a deal for a 30-year factory lease, marking its inaugural investment in Vietnam.

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Malaysia spends RM150m on Vietnamese rubber to meet demand as local industries shifts towards product manufacturing

Malay Mail

Malaysia procured 24,800 tonnes of Vietnamese rubber worth US$35.2 million (RM150 million) from January to October 2024 to meet the rising needs of the country’s diversifying rubber industry. Yesterday, the Vietnam News Agency reported that Vietnam’s General Department of Customs disclosed that in October alone, Malaysia imported 7,260 tonnes of rubber valued close to (US$11.5 million (RM50 million), making it the second largest importer of the commodity after China.

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Kumho expanding tire production at Vietnam plant by 36%

European Rubber Journal

Korean tire maker to start construction work on USD300m phase 3 project in early 2025.

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Malaysia can gain from US tariff on China-made rubber gloves

New Straits Times

The increase in tariffs imposed by United States regulators on China-made rubber gloves is expected to give Malaysia a competitive edge, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

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Related Articles & Trends

Plastics & Rubber Trends – November 2024

Plastics & Rubber Trends – November 2024

Nov 7, 2024

Using AI for tire inspection, Packaging suppliers convene to talk PCR and recyclability, Material suppliers find alternative markets amid softening auto demand, and more. Find out what plastic & rubber journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.

Plastics & Rubber Trends – October 2024

Plastics & Rubber Trends – October 2024

Oct 7, 2024

The road to net zero: Powering sustainability in tyre manufacturing, Scientists develop novel method for strengthening PVC products, Tyre factory with zero carbon dioxide emissions, and more. Find out what plastic & rubber journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.

Plastics & Rubber Trends – September 2024

Plastics & Rubber Trends – September 2024

Sep 8, 2024

‘Eco-Friendly’ foaming agent masterbatch, Masterbatch bossts sustainability and recyclability, Chemical recycling studies for end-of-life tires, and more. Find out what plastic & rubber journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.

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