Ministry of Economic Affairs' Affordable Plastic Bag Project to Enter Market This Week
The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) launched an "Affordable Plastic Bag Project" in April to mitigate the impact of Middle East tensions on petrochemical raw material supply. With CPC Corporation's No. 4 naphtha cracker starting operations ahead of schedule on April 1, increasing ethylene production, 5,000 tons of affordable raw materials have been secured. This supply is expected to yield approximately 1.25 billion plastic bags, which will gradually enter the market this week. The MOEA Minister conducted market visits and discussions with business and market representatives in early April. Out of 350 business districts and 1033 markets surveyed nationwide, shortages reported by 27 business districts and 7 markets have been resolved. Restocking for retail stores will commence this week, with major retailers maintaining sufficient inventory. The MOEA clarified that the increase in petrochemical raw material exports in March reflected February orders, and a decrease is anticipated in April due to prioritized domestic supply. The MOEA will continue inter-ministerial cooperation and industrial coordination to ensure the supply of medical, agricultural, and daily necessities.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 21:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 22:01 (31 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 13, 2026 at 22:09 (7 min after Collected)
The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announced today, April 13, that it has been promoting an affordable plastic bag project since April to address the impact of the Middle East situation on the supply of petrochemical raw materials. With CPC Corporation's No. 4 naphtha cracker commencing operations ahead of schedule on April 1, thereby increasing ethylene production capacity, the MOEA has successfully contracted for 5,000 tons of affordable raw materials. This supply is projected to produce approximately 1.25 billion plastic bags, which will gradually be distributed to the market starting this week. The MOEA stated in a press release that this affordable project involves cooperation between CPC Corporation and domestic manufacturers. By providing affordable polyethylene raw materials to plastic bag processors, it aims to supply channels, business districts, and markets to stabilize the supply of daily necessities. To understand the first-hand supply and demand situation, Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin visited the Dongsan Market and Wanhua business district on April 3. On April 7 and 9, he invited representatives from 30 business districts and 31 markets and night markets nationwide for discussions to understand their actual needs and suggestions regarding supply speed, price fluctuations, and short-term adjustments. The MOEA stated that in the first wave of inventorying 350 business districts and 1033 markets nationwide, 27 business districts and 7 markets raised concerns about shortages, and assistance has been provided. This includes resolving the shortage issue reported by Chiayi City business district, restoring the supply of tea bags in Pinglin business district, and confirming sufficient upstream raw materials for special specification garment bags in Kaohsiung Houyi business district. Regarding markets, the MOEA stated that demands from Tainan Xuejia, Lienchiang Jieshou, Kinmen Jinhu markets, and Kaohsiung Xifeng Street stall area have been met with assistance from the MOEA in matching manufacturers for supply. Other business districts and markets have returned to their original procurement channels, indicating that the overall supply chain operation is stabilizing. Regarding channels, the MOEA pointed out that retail channels such as Xiaobei Department Store and Zhenyu Hardware will gradually restock starting this week. Hypermarkets, convenience stores, and supermarkets currently have sufficient inventory of related products. As of April 10, the total demand is approximately 310,000 packages, and supply matching is ongoing. Regarding public concerns about increased exports of petrochemical raw materials, the MOEA explained that the increase in March exports mainly reflects orders received during the Lunar New Year in February. Overall sales remain within a reasonable range, and petrochemical companies have been coordinated to prioritize domestic market supply. Exports are expected to decrease in April. The MOEA emphasized that in the face of changes in the international situation, it will continue to ensure the supply of medical materials, agricultural products, and daily necessities through inter-ministerial cooperation and industry adjustment mechanisms. It will also cooperate with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to ensure the smooth supply of medicines and medical materials. Subsequent reviews of supply and demand will be conducted to maintain market stability.