How is the EU's new BPA ban reshaping global bisphenol A trade flows?

The EU Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 effectively bans BPA in food contact materials, with narrow exemptions for epoxy resins where migration stays below detection limits. This forces global producers to reassess compliance strategies, particularly for epoxy coatings used in cans and water pipes. While China's domestic market is less directly impacted, exporters targeting EU markets must ensure BPA-free or compliant grades. Meanwhile, China remains the world's largest BPA importer, sourcing from Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. The regulatory shift could accelerate substitution toward BPS or other bisphenol analogs, though these face their own restrictions under the same regulation. For Chinese producers, the near-term risk is limited, but long-term competitiveness in premium export markets will depend on offering compliant, low-migration products.