(RTTNews) - Trinseo PLC (TSEOF), a materials solutions provider, on Tuesday announced that it has started the next step in its financial restructu...

Tronox and another European and American chemical company face operational crises and initiate bankruptcy restructuring proceedings. 2026-05-18 08:59:37 Source: ChemNet 中文 In May 2026, the global chemical and plastic recycling industry saw further corporate crises. Following the shutdown or exit of related businesses by Japan's Asahi Kasei and Mitsubishi Chemical, US specialty materials company Trinseo announced a bankruptcy restructuring, and UK chemical recycling company Plastic Energy also entered administration procedures. Coupled with the continued downturn in the European industry, industry consolidation has intensified. Trinseo: US Specialty Materials Giant Initiates Restructuring Amid High Debt On May 13, US specialty materials solutions provider Trinseo officially announced a bankruptcy restructuring to resolve high debt pressure. Trinseo is a globally renowned specialty materials enterprise. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014, it owns 32 manufacturing bases and 9 R&D facilities globally. Its core products cover polycarbonate (PC), styrene-butadiene latex, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), ABS resin, and bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), among others. Among them, the CALIBRE series of polycarbonate is a mainstream high-performance PC product globally, widely used in medical devices, optical devices, and food packaging fields; styrene-butadiene latex is one of its core products, with the Zhangjiagang base having an annual capacity of 230,000 tons, used in coatings, adhesives, and other industries; ABS resin and bio-based TPU focus on automotive interiors, shoe materials, and consumer electronics fields. Financial data shows that Trinseo is under continuous operating pressure. Net sales in 2025 were approximately $2.975 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 15%, with a full-year net loss of $546 million; in the first quarter of 2026, net sales were $725 million, a year-on-year decrease of 8%, with a net loss of $116 million. As of the end of the first quarter of 2026, the company's total debt reached $2.8 billion, with a debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 18.31, indicating persistently high debt pressure. This restructuring has signed a support agreement with major debt holders and obtained support from major lenders. It will be implemented through a pre-packaged restructuring plan under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code, expected to reduce debt by approximately $2 billion and annual interest expenses by $140 million. Restructuring funds include $158 million in debtor-in-possession financing, $150 million in accounts receivable financing, and exit financing. Existing lenders will receive 100% equity in the restructured company, while the rights and interests of general unsecured creditors such as trade creditors and suppliers will not be affected. Trinseo plans to finalize the restructuring plan in the coming weeks and subsequently file a voluntary bankruptcy petition with the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. This only involves certain US affiliates and non-operating foreign affiliates, with other affiliates not included in the scope of the application. Plastic Energy: UK Plastic Recycling Enterprise; Cash Flow Crunch but Core Technology Retains Value On May 11, UK chemical recycling company Plastic Energy announced it had entered administration procedures, with the core cause being a severe cash flow crisis and the continued downturn in the European plastic recycling industry. Founded in 2012, Plastic Energy is a global leader in chemical recycling, with its core competency being the self-developed TAC(TM) patented pyrolysis technology. Its mainstream product is TACOIL(TM) synthetic oil, produced by heating waste plastic in an oxygen-free environment. It can replace fossil fuels and serve as a raw material for virgin plastic production, suitable for high-end fields such as food-grade packaging. Processing 1 ton of waste plastic yields 850 liters of TACOIL(TM). The company's business covers the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Spain, and other regions. It has built two commercial recycling plants in Seville and Almeria, Spain, and is one of the few companies globally to have achieved commercial operation of waste plastic chemical recycling. This administration involves Plastic Energy Limited and its holding company Plastic Energy Finco Limited. The administrators stated that existing employees will be retained to maintain business operations while seeking potential buyers. Notably, the operating entities of the two recycling plants in Spain, Plastic Energy SLU, did not enter the bankruptcy proceedings and continue to operate normally. At the industry level, the European plastic recycling industry has continued to deteriorate in recent years. In 2024, it encountered the "most severe decline," forcing the closure of facilities with an annual capacity of 300,000 tons; in 2025, the crisis intensified, with the number of closed facilities increasing by approximately 50%. Over the past three years, Europe has lost nearly 1 million tons of recycling capacity cumulatively. The industry downturn has become a significant inducement of corporate operating difficulties. [Copyright Notice] In the spirit of openness and inclusiveness of the Internet, ChemNet welcomes all media and institutions to reprint and quote its original content. If reprinted, please mark the source ChemNet. If you find any copyright issues with articles on this website, please contact Chemnet at [email protected]. Important information. Scan to access the mobile version View the latest and hottest chemical news content Commodity Price chart. | Product name | Price (yuan/ton) | Price Limit | | Liquid ammonia | 2246.67 | -14.90% | | Hydrogen peroxide | 916.67 | -13.25% | | Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether | 8300.00 | -9.92% | | N-propanol | 7133.33 | -8.55% | | Phosphorus yellow | 31296.00 | +8.31% | | Dimethylamine aqueous solution | 2170.00 | +7.96% | | Sulfur | 7583.33 | +7.82% | | 2-EH | 8366.67 | -7.72% | | Acrylic acid | 8816.67 | -7.03% | | sodium dihydrogen phosphate | 6520.00 | +6.89% | | Propylene oxide | 9500.00 | -6.86% | | TDI | 16000.00 | -6.07% | | Crude oil | 101.17 | +6.03% | | EVA | 12016.67 | -5.75% | | Acetic acid | 3083.33 | -5.71% |

Trinseo launches VOLTABOND(TM) 211 to power what's next in fast-charging battery performance. May 13, 2026 New Addition to Trinseo's Fourth-Generation SBR Binder Platform Minimizes Binder Migration, Lowers Electrode Surface Resistivity and Reduces Battery DCIR WAYNE, Pa. - Trinseo, a specialty materials solutions provider, today announced the commercial launch of VOLTABOND(TM) 211, the second product in its Fourth-Generation SBR Binder Platform. Designed to address the growing demand for anode binders that support fast-charging performance, VOLTABOND(TM) 211 is a water-based, functional styrene-butadiene (SBR) binder formulated for graphite- and silicon-based anode systems in lithium-ion batteries. As the electric vehicle and energy storage system battery industries accelerate toward faster-charging solutions, VOLTABOND(TM) 211 targets the binder-controlled variables that directly influence electrochemical performance. By minimizing binder migration during electrode drying, the binder achieves a homogeneous distribution across the electrode coating - improving adhesion to the current collector, providing mechanical cohesion through the mid and top layers, and keeping the electrode surface clear of binder accumulation.[1] The result is unimpeded lithium transport pathways that directly support improved cell kinetics and fast-charging capability. Compared to VOLTABOND(TM) 029, Trinseo's Generation-2 SBR binder, VOLTABOND(TM) 211 delivers a 5% reduction in electrode surface resistivity and up to an 18% reduction in internal resistance (DCIR) of the whole battery.[2] Notably, these gains are achieved while maintaining strong peel adhesion and high-temperature performance. "The launch of VOLTABOND(TM) 211 is a direct reflection of how Trinseo approaches innovation - ahead of the curve and in partnership with our customers," said Arthas Yang, Senior Vice President, Latex Binders. "Fast charging is no longer a future requirement. It is a present one, and VOLTABOND(TM) 211 was built to power what's next in battery manufacturing and performance." VOLTABOND(TM) 211 is available for commercial supply across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America, with regional teams ready to work directly with battery manufacturers to qualify the product for their specific anode systems. "Having a binder partner with a global manufacturing footprint is a meaningful advantage for battery manufacturers navigating supply chain complexity. The combination of validated performance data and hands-on technical support is what sets Trinseo apart," said André Hugentobler, Global VP Technology Innovation. VOLTABOND(TM) 211 reflects Trinseo's commitment to strategic partnership with customers - developing material solutions tailored to their performance goals and supporting them at every stage of the battery development and manufacturing journey. [1] Supporting data is available upon request. [2] DCIR gains were validated in a 4 Ah pouch cell configuration. Press Contacts: About Trinseo Trinseo (OTCM: TSEOF), a specialty material solutions provider, partners with companies to bring ideas to life in an imaginative, smart and sustainably focused manner by combining its premier expertise, forward-looking innovations and best-in-class materials to unlock value for companies and consumers. From design to manufacturing, Trinseo taps into decades of experience in diverse material solutions to address customers' unique challenges in a wide range of industries, including building and construction, consumer goods, medical and mobility. Trinseo's employees bring endless creativity to reimagining the possibilities with clients all over the world from the company's locations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Trinseo reported net sales of approximately $3.0 billion in 2025. Discover more by visiting www.trinseo.com and connecting with Trinseo on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and WeChat. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, projections, forecasts, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are not statements of historical facts or guarantees or assurances of future performance. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words like "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "forecast," "outlook," "will," "may," "might," "see," "tend," "assume," "potential," "likely," "target," "plan," "contemplate," "seek," "attempt," "should," "could," "would" or expressions of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements reflect management's evaluation of information currently available and are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy, our current indebtedness and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Factors that might cause future results to differ from those expressed by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully execute our business and transformation strategy; increased costs or disruption in the supply of raw materials; increased energy costs; our ability to successfully implement proposed restructuring initiatives, including the closure of certain plants and product lines, and to successfully generate cost savings and increase profitability; compliance with laws and regulations impacting our business; conditions in the global economy and capital markets; our ability to meet the covenants under our existing indebtedness; our ability to successfully investigate and remediate chemical releases on or from our sites, make related capital expenditures, reimburse third-party cleanup costs or settle potential regulatory penalties or other claims; and those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, under Part I, Item 1A - "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in its other reports, filings and furnishings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. As a result of these or other factors, its actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Therefore, Trinseo Company caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Trinseo Company undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. Ready for a partnership? From design to manufacturing, Trinseo Company'll work hand in hand with you to determine solutions unique to the needs of your business. Latest Mobility News