Almost everything around us — plastic bottles, clothing fibers, house paint — starts out as crude oil. The big question of this era is: can we "feed microbes to ferment the same raw materials" instead of drilling for them? The answer is yes — but this road is littered with the wreckage of companies that died because they couldn't beat the price of oil. And that's the heart of the whole story.
CJ CheilJedang and ADM to Form Amino Acid Joint Venture Majority Owned by CJ
CJ CheilJedang and ADM have agreed to form a new joint venture to secure a reliable, long-term source of feed-grade amino acids critical to the livestock industry, strengthening U.S. production, global supply chain resilience and U.S. food security. The joint venture will develop, manufacture and market fermentation-derived amino acids by combining CJ's fermentation production facilities in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Piracicaba, Brazil, ADM's Decatur, Illinois, feed-grade amino acid plant, and CJ's Mexico, Brazil and U.S. sales offices, along with a license to CJ's intellectual property related to feed-grade amino acids for use by the joint venture within North and South America. CJ and ADM will give the JV exclusive rights to manufacture and sell feed-grade amino acids in the Americas, and CJ will be the majority owner. CJ will retain ownership of its intellectual property and its global fermentation businesses outside the scope of the joint venture, while ADM's other Decatur operations and its other global fermentation assets are not included in the transaction. The launch date for the proposed joint venture is subject to customary closing activities as well as regulatory approvals.
097950.KO · Capital · Positive CJ CheilJedang will be majority owner of the new amino acid JV, contributing its Fort Dodge and Piracicaba plants and licensing its IP.
ADM · Capital · Positive ADM contributes its Decatur feed-grade amino acid plant to a new JV with CJ, expanding its fermentation footprint and securing long-term amino acid supply.
BCP Jumps 5% as Broker Highlights SAF Project, Sees Q3 EBITDA Topping 2 Billion Baht, Buy Rating with 56 Baht Target
Shares of Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited, or BCP, rose 5.05% to 52.00 baht at 10:05 a.m. on October 2, 2026, on trading value of 300.57 million baht, after Land and Houses Securities said in an analysis that the company's sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, project of BSGF Company Limited, in which BCP holds an 80% stake, is Thailand's first stand-alone SAF production project. Located at the Bangchak Phra Khanong refinery, it uses mainly used cooking oil as feedstock and Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acid technology to produce neat SAF, as well as Bio-LPG and Bionaphtha, with initial production capacity of about 1 million liters per day. The project was completed with an investment of about 8.5 billion baht, first produced in May 2026, and in the second quarter of 2026 ran at an average of about 6,800 barrels per day, or roughly 1.08 million liters per day, with total sales of about 39 million liters and EBITDA of about 1 billion baht, even though commercial operations began only halfway through the quarter. It received an eight-year corporate income tax exemption and a 50% tax reduction for the following five years from the Board of Investment. Land and Houses Securities expects the SAF business to begin generating full-quarter profits for the first time in the third quarter of 2026 and sees a chance of EBITDA exceeding 2 billion baht in that quarter, potentially reaching about 8 billion baht on a full-year basis in 2027. Meanwhile, the acquisition of Chevron Hong Kong, completed at the end of the second quarter of 2026, will also begin contributing a full quarter of results for the first time in the third quarter of 2026. It therefore maintained a buy rating on BCP with a target price of 56 baht. Trinity Securities said after visiting the project that the plant runs at an average utilization rate of about 6,800 barrels per day, close to its designed capacity of 7,000 barrels per day, and has the flexibility to switch between SAF and HVO, or renewable diesel, with SAF yields of about 90% while HVO is about 98%. It also views the project as adding about 7,000 barrels per day of new production capacity to BCP's portfolio, on top of its existing refining base of about 294,000 barrels per day, with plans to raise capacity by about 50% from roughly 1 million liters per day to 1.5 million liters per day, equivalent to about 10,000 to 11,000 barrels per day. It recommended buying BCP with a target price of 55 baht.
BCP.BK · Capital · Positive Land and Houses Securities maintains buy rating with 56 baht target, citing SAF project and Q3 EBITDA potentially exceeding 2 billion baht.
BSGF Co., Ltd. · Capital · Positive BSGF's SAF project is highlighted as Thailand's first stand-alone SAF production, with expected full-quarter profits and EBITDA exceeding 2 billion baht in Q3 2026.
ThailandJapanSouth KoreaUnited StatesEuropean Union
Bio-Based Materials & Industrial Chemicals▲2
EA takes Bio-PCM to commercial scale, exporting 1,000 tonnes a year worth over 100 million baht
Energy Absolute Public Company Limited, or EA, is pushing forward with the commercialisation of Bio-PCM, a bio-based material developed from natural raw materials, particularly palm oil, through Green Technology Research Company Limited, a company within the EA group. Chatchapol Sripratum, Chief Executive Officer of EA, disclosed that EA recently joined with the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness to organise the project "Up the Phase. Upgrade the World: Phase Change Materials to Future World-Changing Innovation," which drew 107 teams, later narrowed to the final 10. The winning entries were "BioTemp 22 (ENP@R17), an innovation controlling temperatures at 20-24°C using Bio-PCM for platelet transport" in the Bio-PCM Frontier Tech category, and "Evi-PCM Block: an innovation locking in temperature to protect environmental evidence" in the Next Gen Visionary category. Currently, EA's Bio-PCM, developed by EA's research team through GTR and granted the first and only patent of its kind in Thailand, is exported to Japan, South Korea, the United States and Europe, totalling about 1,000 tonnes per year, worth more than 100 million baht, with order value continuing to rise.
EA.BK · Demand · Positive EA is commercializing Bio-PCM with exports of ~1,000 tonnes/year worth over 100 million baht and rising order value.
Green Technology Research Co., Ltd. · Demand · Positive GTR, an EA group company, developed and is commercializing the patented Bio-PCM now being exported.
EA Sets Three-Year Goal to Push Bio-PCM Sales to 100 Million Baht
Energy Absolute, or EA, has announced a target to raise sales of its bio-PCM product to 100 million baht within three years. Chatphol Sriprathum, the company's Chief Executive Officer, said that PCM, or Phase Change Material, which is extracted from palm oil, currently generates only modest sales and revenue, with its main markets being Japan and Korea, and that EA is the first and only Thai operator producing and exporting PCM at present. At the same time, the company is pressing ahead with the development of Green Diesel, or HVO, to meet demand for clean energy in overseas markets, and is preparing to expand investment in renewable energy businesses, including wind power plants and waste-to-energy plants, to offset revenue from the Adder scheme of its existing projects as those gradually expire. In addition, Green Technology Research Company Limited, part of the EA group, together with the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness, announced the winners of the Up the Phase project, narrowing 107 applicant teams from across the country down to 10 finalists. The winning entries were BioTemp 22, an innovation that controls temperatures between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius using Bio-PCM for platelet transport, and Evi-PCM Block, an innovation that locks in temperature to protect environmental evidence.
EA.BK · Demand · Positive EA targets raising bio-PCM sales to 100 million baht within three years, with PCM currently exported to Japan and Korea.
EA.BK · Technology · Positive EA is developing Green Diesel (HVO) and expanding renewable energy investments including wind and waste-to-energy plants.
Green Technology Research Co., Ltd. · Technology · Positive Green Technology Research, part of the EA group, announced winners of the Up the Phase Bio-PCM innovation project.
CHAR Technologies Ltd. has reached substantial mechanical and electrical completion of Phase 1, the first commercial-scale biocarbon production line at its Thorold Renewable Energy Facility, clearing the way for the facility to move into end-to-end commissioning and commercial operations. The Thorold Facility, jointly owned 50/50 between CHAR Tech and The BMI Group, is now awaiting final approvals from the Electrical Safety Authority and the Technical Standards and Safety Authority as each system is brought fully online and up to temperature for commercial biocarbon and pyrolysis gas production. Commercial ramp-up is targeted through October, with production and revenue increasing through calendar year-end 2026 as the facility moves toward its full Phase 1 run-rate; Phase 1 is designed to produce up to 5,500 tonnes of biocarbon per year, supplying customers including ArcelorMittal Dofasco under a previously announced offtake agreement. With Phase 1 construction complete, the company intends to proceed with Phase 2, which includes installation of a second HTP kiln, addition of methanation equipment to upgrade synthetic gas into renewable natural gas, and construction of an onsite RNG pipeline injection point; once the facility begins producing RNG, it will be the first in the world to produce RNG and biocarbon simultaneously from wood waste. Chief Executive Officer Andrew White called the milestone a critical step toward first revenues, adding that hard work remains as the company moves toward the RNG phase of construction and production.
CHAR Technologies Ltd. · Capital · Positive CHAR Tech completed Phase 1 of its Thorold biocarbon line, clearing the way to commissioning, commercial ramp-up and first revenues
ArcelorMittal Dofasco · Demand · Positive ArcelorMittal Dofasco is the named offtake customer for up to 5,500 tonnes/year of biocarbon from the Thorold Phase 1 line
Uniper Reserves Future SAF Capacity From Syzygy Plasmonics' NovaSAF Platform
Uniper has signed a capacity reservation agreement for future sustainable aviation fuel supply from Syzygy Plasmonics' NovaSAF platform, joining a growing list of aviation fuel buyers backing the company's biogas-to-SAF technology. The agreement adds commercial traction to Syzygy's planned NovaSAF facilities in Central and South America, where NovaSAF-1 in Uruguay is approaching a final investment decision. Syzygy said the deal for its dual-certified pathway helps enhance the European Union's ability to meet mandate targets for both bio and RFNBO SAF. Syzygy CEO Trevor Best said Uniper's decision reflects the commercial traction the platform is attracting at the moment it is most needed to meet mandate volumes, while Uniper SVP New Energies Benedikt Messner said securing access to the technology is another step in building the company's position in a market with significant growth potential. NovaSAF is Syzygy's commercial project platform, converting biogas to sustainable aviation fuel using its proprietary Rigel photocatalytic reactor, with facilities planned globally.
AFYREN Propionic Acid Powers World's First Natural Skincare Product
AFYREN's 100% bio-based propionic acid has enabled the global launch of Esse Barrier Rescue, the world's first skincare product formulated with natural propionic acid, now available to skincare professionals and consumers worldwide. The moisturizer, developed by South Africa-based Esse Skincare, combines propionic acid and ceramides to relieve extremely dry and reactive skin while reinforcing the skin's natural ecosystem. AFYREN produces the COSMOS-certified propionic acid through natural fermentation at its AFYREN NEOXY plant in France's Grand-Est region, the first facility in the world capable of producing a portfolio of organic acids at commercial scale. The partnership, which began in December 2025, marks the first use of a natural microbial metabolite in its pure, bio-based form in the skincare industry, opening the door to new cosmetic solutions. Joachim Merziger, COO of AFYREN, said the partnership shows how biotechnology can unlock new opportunities for both performance and sustainability in cosmetics.
ALAFY.PA · Demand · Positive AFYREN's bio-based propionic acid enabled the global launch of Esse Barrier Rescue, the first skincare product using natural propionic acid, opening new cosmetic applications for its product.
Esse Skincare · Technology · Positive Esse Skincare launched Barrier Rescue, the world's first skincare product formulated with natural propionic acid, a novel bio-based ingredient.
KTIS Joins Hands with Singapore's Alterpacks and SJS to Sign MOU for PFAS-Free Bagasse Packaging Production
The KTIS Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with Singapore's Alterpacks and SJS Business Company, or SJS, to study and bring Alterpacks' PFAS-free packaging material technology into commercial production in Thailand, while jointly tapping the global eco-friendly packaging market. The signatories included Mr. Pratch Siriviryakul, a director of Environment Pulp and Packaging Company Limited, or EPAC, a company within the KTIS Group; Ms. Karen Cheah, founder and chief executive officer of Alterpacks Pte. Ltd.; and Mr. Sakon Raksat, chief executive officer of SJS Business Company Limited. Under this collaboration, Alterpacks will transfer material innovations from Singapore, while EPAC will take responsibility for production and bagasse raw materials, with a Thai company managing the project domestically, in order to add value to agricultural waste materials and lay the foundation for Thailand to become a production base for eco-friendly packaging materials for export markets. The signing ceremony was honored by the participation of a delegation from Enterprise Singapore under Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry, led by Ms. Irene Teo, Regional Director. Currently, EPAC produces eco-friendly packaging from 100% pure bagasse pulp under the brand "Evolve Purity," which does not rely on PFAS substances, biodegrades naturally within 45 days, and has a production capacity of up to 50 tons per day, or approximately 3 million pieces per day, using more than 50 standard machines, and has been certified to FSSC 22000 V.5.1, ISO 22000:2018, GHPs, and HACCP standards.
Alterpacks Pte. Ltd. · Technology · Positive Alterpacks will transfer its PFAS-free packaging material technology into commercial production in Thailand.
Environment Pulp & Packaging Co., Ltd. · Demand · Positive EPAC, the KTIS unit, will handle production and bagasse raw materials for the new PFAS-free packaging venture, adding value to its bagasse output.
KTIS.BK · Demand · Positive KTIS Group signs MOU to commercialize PFAS-free bagasse packaging and tap the global eco-friendly packaging market, expanding its product business.
SJS Business Co., Ltd. · Demand · Positive SJS Business signs the MOU as a partner to jointly tap the global eco-friendly packaging market.
AFYREN Posts €2.4 Million Half-Year Profit After Buying Out NEOXY Plant Stake
AFYREN reported net income of €2.4 million for the first half of 2026, reversing a net loss of €6.9 million a year earlier, after completing the €11.3 million cash buyout of the 49% stake held by SPI in its AFYREN NEOXY plant. The acquisition, which took effect in the accounts from March 31, 2026, lifted tangible and intangible assets to €96.5 million and produced €15.8 million in non-recurring income from the revaluation of the previously held stake, while consolidated financial debt reached €40.9 million against equity of €71.8 million. First-half revenue came to €1.3 million, of which €585,000 was sales of acids and fertilizer, and the company said billings at the plant of roughly one million euros doubled the level recorded for all of 2025. AFYREN also secured a €12.5 million venture debt facility from BNP Paribas with a five-year maturity and a two-year repayment grace period, plus a €3 million grant from the European Just Transition Fund administered by the Grand Est region. The company said it targets doubling AFYREN NEOXY's revenue in the second half of 2026 versus the first half, and confirmed its objective of reaching the plant's break-even point and then the Group's break-even on completion of the 2026–2027 investment program, with a final decision on a second plant reasonably envisioned for 2028 and commissioning in 2030.
ALAFY.PA · Capital · Positive AFYREN swung to €2.4 million half-year net income after the NEOXY buyout, with €15.8 million non-recurring revaluation income and new €12.5 million venture debt plus €3 million grant.
AFYREN NEOXY · Capital · Positive AFYREN NEOXY was fully consolidated after the buyout, with billings doubling 2025 levels and a target to double revenue in H2 2026.
BNP.PA · Capital · Positive BNP Paribas provided a €12.5 million five-year venture debt facility to AFYREN.
300844.CS · Capital · Neutral SPI sold its 49% stake in AFYREN NEOXY for €11.3 million cash, exiting the plant stake.
BBGI approves termination of subsidiary BBFB's biotech plant project
BBGI Public Company Limited, or BBGI, disclosed that its Board of Directors, at its 12/2569 meeting held on 22 September 2569, passed a resolution approving the termination of the biotech plant construction project carried out under BBGI Fermbox Bio Company Limited, or BBFB, a subsidiary in which BBGI holds approximately 86.8 percent of the registered capital. The decision to terminate the project resulted from a review of information and factors relating to the project as a whole, including commercial, operational and risk management factors, as well as the information currently available to the company. The Board of Directors considered the information and relevant factors as reported and deemed the company's action consistent with its principles of business management, good corporate governance and risk management. The termination of the project does not have a material impact on the company's financial position, operating results or core business operations.
BBGI.BK · Capital · Neutral BBGI board approved terminating its subsidiary BBFB's biotech plant project, a capital/risk-management decision with no material financial impact stated.
BBGI Firmbox Bio · Capital · Negative BBFB's biotech plant construction project was terminated by parent BBGI's board, ending the subsidiary's project.
Cosmo Oil Begins Utilizing Naphtha Co-produced in SAF Manufacturing
Cosmo Oil announced on the 17th that it will begin utilizing naphtha co-produced in the SAF manufacturing process together with Maruzen Petrochemical, Ube-Maruzen Polyethylene, and SAFFAIRE SKY ENERGY. At the SAF production facility within Cosmo Oil's Sakai Refinery, naphtha obtained during the production of SAF from waste cooking oil will be utilized as a raw material for chemicals. SAFFAIRE SKY ENERGY will produce the naphtha, Cosmo Oil will supply it, Maruzen Petrochemical will produce basic chemicals, and Ube-Maruzen Polyethylene will produce polyethylene for development into plastic products. The four companies plan to expand supply volumes and develop applications going forward, aiming to contribute to decarbonization in the chemical, textile, and packaging sectors.
5021.JP · Demand · Positive Cosmo Oil will supply naphtha co-produced at its Sakai SAF facility as feedstock for chemicals, expanding its SAF byproduct utilization.
SAFFAIRE SKY ENERGY · Demand · Positive SAFFAIRE SKY ENERGY will produce the naphtha from waste cooking oil in the SAF process, gaining a new output stream.
Maruzen Petrochemical Co., Ltd. · Supply · Positive Maruzen Petrochemical will receive the co-produced naphtha to produce basic chemicals.
Ube-Maruzen Polyethylene Co., Ltd. · Supply · Positive Ube-Maruzen Polyethylene will use the naphtha-derived feedstock to produce polyethylene for plastics.
OECD Says Thailand's Ethanol Tax Rules Lag Behind Bioplastics Industry
The OECD's Climate Club Financial Toolkit 2026 Update, published in June 2026, states that the competitiveness of Bio-Ethylene in Thailand is undermined by an excise tax on domestically produced ethanol of 6 baht per litre and import duties on imported ethanol. The OECD proposes reviewing the relevant rules so that ethanol used to produce bioplastics can qualify for a zero tax rate, and points to licensing restrictions and regulations on the production and sale of alcohol that need to be adjusted to accommodate the use of ethanol as a feedstock in the bioplastics industry. The report also notes that Braskem and SCG Chemicals plan to develop a Bio-Ethylene production project in Thailand with a capacity of about 200,000 tonnes per year, targeting the start of production in 2027, compared with Braskem's Bio-Ethylene capacity in Brazil of about 260,000 tonnes per year. Meanwhile, the OECD's modelling shows that the production cost of Bio-Ethylene is more than three times that of conventional Ethylene, and that PLA costs about 2.6 times as much as the reference plastic in the model. The European Union began applying its Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, or PPWR, Regulation (EU) 2025/40, on 12 August 2026 to drive the transition of the packaging industry.
SCG Chemicals Public Company Limited (SCGC) · Regulation · Neutral OECD report flags Thai ethanol excise tax and licensing rules as barriers to bioplastics feedstock, while noting SCGC's planned 200,000 t/y Bio-Ethylene project in Thailand — a regulatory hurdle for its project, not a company-specific development.
GGC Partners with CP AXTRA to Study Used Cooking Oil for Renewable Energy
Global Green Chemicals Public Company Limited (GGC) and CP AXTRA Public Company Limited (CP AXTRA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to study the feasibility of collecting used cooking oil from CP AXTRA branches, as well as its group companies and network, to improve its quality and create new value in line with the circular economy concept. It is expected that approximately 50,000 liters of used cooking oil can be collected per year, to be used as feedstock for producing sustainable aviation fuel, bioplastics, and biochemicals. Dr. Krisada Prasertsukho, Managing Director of GGC, said that this collaboration is an important opportunity to study alternative feedstocks and add value from used resources. Meanwhile, Mrs. Siriporn Dechasingh, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer of CP AXTRA, said that this collaboration reflects the practical application of circular economy principles, and if the study is successful, there is potential to expand into the production of sustainable aviation fuel, which would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation sector.
Energy Transition & Power Demand › Hydrogen & Fuel Cells ▲Supply
GGC.BK · Supply · Positive GGC gains a potential alternative feedstock supply of ~50,000 liters/year of used cooking oil for sustainable aviation fuel, bioplastics, and biochemicals.
CPAXT.BK · Demand · Positive CP AXTRA partners with GGC to collect used cooking oil from its branches and network as feedstock, creating a new value stream from its waste.
Cathay Biotech first-half net profit 372 million yuan, up 20.75% year on year
Cathay Biotech disclosed its 2026 semi-annual report. In the first half, it achieved operating revenue of 1.9 billion yuan, up 13.73% year on year, and net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company of 372 million yuan, up 20.75% year on year. The profit growth was mainly driven by continued volume expansion of long-chain dibasic acids and revenue contribution from new product sales. During the reporting period, bio-based sebacic acid and bio-based piperidine continued to be introduced to the market, bio-based azelaic acid entered the customer sampling stage, and long-chain polyamide modified products achieved large-scale sales. The company also led an investment in and increased its stake in the AI protein design company MoleculeMind, and currently holds about 17.43% of its shares, making it the largest external shareholder. At the same time, its self-built high-throughput research and development platform has entered the commissioning stage.
Bisphenol replacements market to reach $8.6 billion by 2035
The global bisphenol replacements market is projected to grow from $3.9 billion in 2025 to $8.6 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 8.3%, according to a new report from ResearchAndMarkets.com. The bisphenol analogues segment accounted for a 44% share in 2025, representing $1.7 billion, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15.6% through 2035. The packaging segment represented a 21.5% share in 2025, driven by manufacturers adopting BPA-free materials to comply with food-contact regulations. North America accounted for a 24% share in 2025, with the United States as the primary contributor. Major companies in the market include BASF SE, Covestro AG, SABIC, Hexion Inc., Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation, Solvay S.A., Olin Corporation, Mitsui Chemicals Inc., LG Chem, Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, UPM Biochemicals, NICCA Chemical Co., Ltd., Nagase ChemteX Corporation, Jiangsu Aolunda High-Tech Industry Co., Ltd., and Specific Polymers SAS.
AMSilk bioengineered silk protein yarns featured in Balenciaga 55th Couture Collection
AMSilk announced that its bioengineered silk protein yarns have been featured in Balenciaga’s 55th Couture Collection. An evening cocoon gown constructed using an AMSilk-blend fabric appeared as part of Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli's debut Couture Collection for Balenciaga. The collaboration highlights the luxury fashion industry’s increasing focus on scalable, sustainable alternatives to conventional fabrics. AMSilk’s advanced biomaterials are inspired by spider silk, produced via precision fermentation, and are fully biodegradable and microplastic-free.
AMSilk · Demand · Positive AMSilk's bioengineered silk yarns are featured in Balenciaga's couture collection, indicating adoption by a major luxury brand.
EPR Law Forces Brand Owners to Pay for Packaging Waste Management Down to the Customer
Extended Producer Responsibility laws, or EPR, are sending shockwaves through the consumer goods, food, and export sectors by requiring producers to bear the cost of managing packaging waste that customers discard. In Europe, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is already in full force, while in Thailand, the Packaging Management Act is nearing enactment. Businesses using non-recyclable multi-layer foil or plastic pouches will face higher fees, and modern trade retailers may refuse to stock their products. Adapting through technology, such as using AI generative design to reduce plastic thickness by 10 to 15 percent, can significantly cut waste weight and save on both EPR fees and transport costs. One example is an export snack factory that switched to mono-PE plastic pouches with the help of AI. Although the per-unit cost rose slightly, the total lifecycle cost calculation showed substantial savings on EPR taxes in Europe, resulting in higher net profit per order and increased orders from partners because it helped them pass ESG reporting with ease.
China Resources Double-Crane to Acquire 23.5% Stake in Lier Chemical for 5.656 Billion Yuan in Cash
China Resources Double-Crane has disclosed a major asset purchase plan, proposing to acquire a combined 23.5 percent stake in Lier Chemical for cash, with a total transaction price of 5.656 billion yuan. The company plans to purchase a 20 percent stake in Lier Chemical from Sichuan Jiuyuan Investment Holding Group and a 3.5 percent stake from Sichuan Huacai Technology, at a proposed transfer price of 30.07 yuan per share. Upon completion of the deal, Lier Chemical's controlling shareholder will change from Jiuyuan Group to China Resources Double-Crane, and the actual controller will become China Resources. China Resources Double-Crane stated that the acquisition will help rapidly achieve the industrialization of synthetic biology technology products, build a second growth curve in synthetic biology, and establish a leading benchmark enterprise in the field.
Angel Yeast Subsidiary Plans to Invest 370 Million Yuan in New Synthetic Biology Pilot Verification Base
Angel Yeast's wholly-owned subsidiary, Angel Enzyme Preparation Yichang Company, plans to invest 370 million yuan to build a new synthetic biology pilot verification base project. The project has been approved by the board of directors and still needs to be submitted to the shareholders' meeting for review and relevant authorities for approval. The project will construct an extraction workshop and a fermentation workshop on reserved land of the enzyme preparation company, with a construction period of 16 months, expected to start in March 2027, and funds will be self-raised by the company. According to calculations, the project is expected to have an investment return rate of 9.79 percent, offering good investment returns and risk resistance. Angel Yeast stated that the project aligns with the company's medium- and long-term development strategy for synthetic biology, will build an integrated pilot platform, accelerate the industrialization of new industrial enzyme preparations, novel microbial proteins, and other products, and enhance the company's core competitiveness in the field of biomanufacturing.
Penghua Chemical ETF rises over 2%, agrochemical and lithium battery materials sectors strengthen
The Penghua Chemical ETF rose more than 2%, with agrochemical and lithium battery materials sectors showing strong performance. On the news front, recent geopolitical conflicts have disrupted fertilizer transportation, putting global fertilizer supply at risk of interruption, while high temperatures have boosted fertilizer demand. Lithium carbonate prices continue to climb, and most lithium battery companies reported favorable first-half results. As of July 22, the majority of listed companies in the lithium battery industry chain that have disclosed first-half earnings forecasts expect year-on-year growth or a turnaround from losses. Huaan Securities noted that against the backdrop of high oil prices, intensifying cost pressures on mid- and downstream chemical sectors will accelerate the elimination of outdated capacity. The synthetic biology and bio-manufacturing industry chain, driven by dual-carbon policies, energy security, and supply chain restructuring, may see a revaluation of asset values. As of 1:43 PM on July 23, 2026, the CSI Subdivided Chemical Industry Thematic Index surged 2.16%, with constituent stocks such as Dongfang Tower up 7.06%, Enjie Stock up 6.29%, and Salt Lake Stock and Hengyi Petrochemical also rising. The Penghua Chemical ETF gained 2.07%, aiming for a third consecutive day of gains, with the latest price at 0.79 yuan. This ETF closely tracks the CSI Subdivided Chemical Industry Thematic Index, which selects securities of listed companies with relatively large scale and good liquidity from the subdivided chemical industry as samples. As of June 30, 2026, the top ten weighted stocks accounted for 43.96% of the total.
GGC Highlights Nakhon Sawan Bio Hub to Drive BCG Economy
Minister of Industry Varawut Silpa-archa and his delegation visited the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex project of Global Green Chemicals Public Company Limited, or GGC, to hear progress updates and tour the plants of NatureWorks and GKBI. The Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex is operated by GGC KTIS Bio Industrial Company Limited, or GKBI, a joint venture between GGC and Kaset Thai International Sugar Corporation Public Company Limited, or KTIS, linking agricultural raw materials with the bioethanol, renewable energy, and bioplastics industries in a fully integrated manner. The project is divided into two phases, both of which are already in commercial operation. Phase 1 comprises a sugar mill, an ethanol plant, and a biomass power plant, which began commercial operations in the first quarter of 2024. Phase 2 involves the development of utilities to support the PLA bioplastics plant of NatureWorks and new partners, with commercial services starting in the fourth quarter of 2025. Dr. Krisada Prasertsukho, Managing Director of GGC, said the project reflects the potential to drive the biofuels business and extend into biochemicals and bioplastics, while supporting the BCG economy and the transition to a sustainable low-carbon economy.
GGC.BK · Demand · Positive GGC's Nakhon Sawan Bio Hub is highlighted by Minister, with phases in commercial operation, driving biofuels and bioplastics.
GGC KTIS Bio Industrial Co., Ltd. (GKBI) · Demand · Positive GKBI operates the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex, with both phases in commercial operation, linking agri raw materials to bioindustries.
KTIS.BK · Demand · Positive KTIS is a joint venture partner in GKBI, benefiting from the integrated bio hub operations.
NatureWorks LLC · Demand · Positive NatureWorks' PLA bioplastics plant is supported by Phase 2 utilities, starting commercial services in Q4 2025.
Bezos Earth Fund awards $34 million to reinvent textile materials
The Bezos Earth Fund, where Lauren Sánchez Bezos serves as vice chair, announced $34 million in grants to develop breakthrough materials for the fashion and textile industry. The funding is split across four research tracks: Columbia University and the Fashion Institute of Technology will share $11.5 million to grow textile fiber from bacteria fed on agricultural waste, UC Berkeley receives $10 million for a biodegradable fiber inspired by spider silk, Clemson University gets $11 million to gene-edit cotton with built-in color and performance, and the Cotton Foundation receives $1.5 million to restore a non-GMO cotton seedbank. The announcement came days before the 2026 Met Gala, where Bezos and Sánchez Bezos served as lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs, sparking protests over worker exploitation at Amazon and accusations of image laundering. Critics also questioned the sincerity of the move given Amazon's position as the world's largest clothing retailer and its rising absolute carbon emissions, while the fund aims to drive performance up and premiums down for next-generation materials.
COTTON · Technology · Negative The grants fund development of alternative fibers (bacterial, biodegradable, gene-edited cotton) that could reduce demand for traditional cotton.
AMZN · · Neutral Amazon is mentioned as the world's largest clothing retailer and criticized for rising emissions, but the grant is not directly about Amazon's operations.
On Launches CleanCloud Midsole Made from Captured Carbon Emissions
On Holding AG is introducing a midsole made of captured carbon emissions, rolling out the CleanCloud technology in its Cloud X 5 sneaker. The midsole uses Infinium's eNaphtha, created from captured carbon dioxide and hydrogen, as a renewable alternative to petroleum-based naphtha, which Borouge International then converts into ethylene-vinyl acetate pellets. A life cycle assessment indicates an 80 percent carbon emissions savings compared to conventional manufacturing, and On is ramping up production to 1 million pairs, attributing the rapid scale-up to direct relationships with chemical companies that enabled a drop-in solution in existing reactors.
ONON · Technology · Positive On launches CleanCloud midsole made from captured carbon, a new product technology with 80% carbon savings, scaling to 1M pairs.
Infinium · Demand · Positive Infinium supplies eNaphtha made from captured CO2 and hydrogen for On's CleanCloud midsole, driving demand for its product.
Borouge PLC · Demand · Positive Borouge converts eNaphtha into EVA pellets for On's CleanCloud midsole, creating demand for its conversion services.
Aduro and ECOCE complete feedstock mapping, begin HCT testing of Mexican flexible plastic waste
Aduro Clean Technologies and ECOCE have completed the first phase of their collaboration on feedstock mapping and are now moving into hydrochemolytic technology testing of selected flexible plastic packaging waste streams from Mexico. The partnership, announced in December 2025, involves a multi-stage evaluation of flexible plastic packaging collected through Mexican recovery systems. Phase 1 used ECOCE's ongoing national feedstock mapping program to identify and assess several streams of post-consumer flexible plastic packaging based on estimated availability, collection routes, physical form, contamination profiles, and preparation requirements. Mexico generates approximately 1.5 million tonnes of flexible plastic packaging annually, and the mapped materials include flexible polypropylene, flexible polyethylene, and multilayer flexible packaging such as snack wrappers, shopping bags, bread bags, seed and grain packaging, pet food packaging, cold cuts and dairy packaging, and resealable pouches. With Phase 1 complete, Aduro will conduct laboratory-scale HCT trials to evaluate processability, product characteristics, yield, residues, contaminant behavior, and mass balance, while ECOCE's Director of Flexible Plastic Packaging Adrián Velasco will visit Aduro's facilities to align testing protocols and sample requirements. Successful lab results would support a transition to Phase 3 testing in the Next Generation Process pilot plant to assess scalability and enable customer validation.
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