Precious Metals of the New Era – Silver and Gold Prices Soar to Record Highs Article by SO OK TRADING – January 24, 2026

Global Plastic Crisis! Overlapping Shocks Shake the Industry At the beginning of 2026, the world faced a “Petrochemical Shock” that sent plastic raw material prices soaring by more than 37%. Conflicts in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused a severe shortage of naphtha—the lifeblood of the plastic industry—across the globe. Japan and South Korea were forced to cut production, while China accelerated its shift to alternative energy. Europe and the United States also struggled under surging costs. At the same time, the world is grappling with an environmental crisis from overflowing plastic waste. Recycling rates remain at only 10%, while the other 90% is landfilled, incinerated, or leaked into the environment. Alarmingly, microplastics have already entered the food chain and the human body. This is not just a “temporary crisis” but a structural turning point for the global plastic industry. Companies that adapt quickly—embracing Bio-based Plastics, Chemical Recycling, and the Circular Economy—will emerge as leaders in the new era now taking shape. SO OK TRADING is ready to be your trusted business partner. FAST • SHARP • RELIABLE

Thai Baht Amid Global Economic Storms: When War, Oil, and Gold Set the Direction