From advanced battery materials to smart automation and evolving global trade, July 2025 delivered a wave of impactful developments across the bulk material and processing industries. Whether you're navigating supply chain volatility, exploring new manufacturing technologies, or keeping pace with shifting consumer demands, this month’s headlines highlight the innovations and challenges shaping the future. Here are five standout stories you may have missed—each offering insight into where the industry is headed and how it’s adapting in real time.
A July 2025 study explores using plain-weave carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates as structural packaging for lithium-ion polymer batteries. The material demonstrated strong mechanical properties—even after prolonged exposure to battery electrolytes—absorbing only ~0.4 wt %. However, exposure to water caused higher absorption and reduced flexural strength, though tensile and compressive strength remained stable.
Despite its structural advantages, CFRP has poor barrier performance compared to traditional aluminum foils, allowing more moisture and oxygen to permeate. Researchers suggest improvements like thermoplastic layers, low-diffusion matrices, nanoparticle fillers, or optimized fiber layups to enhance barrier properties. With these enhancements, CFRP could become a viable option for multifunctional battery enclosures.
A July 28, 2025 report reveals that industrial bakeries are increasingly investing in automation technologies primarily to address persistent labor shortages. With labor costs rising and automation becoming more affordable, many companies are deploying solutions like pan/tray stackers, basket sorters, automated ingredient handling systems, robotics, AGVs, and collaborative robots. These technologies help eliminate repetitive, hard-to-fill roles—enabling existing staff to focus on more complex, value-added tasks.
Rather than replacing workers, automation is reframing roles: employee comfort, safety, and job enrichment are central to adoption. As automation costs decline, technologies that were once cost‑prohibitive (e.g. Bluetooth sensors, vibration monitoring) are now seen as viable productivity-enhancers. The industry trend shows companies moving toward integrated systems that streamline both front- and back-end operations to increase efficiency and reduce reliance on manual labor.
In a recent study, researchers at NJIT developed machine learning models to predict the flowability of pharmaceutical powders and blends with impressive accuracy—reaching about 85% accuracy for individual components and 87% for final powder blends. These models were trained on a data set of around 410 blends, featuring variations in APIs, excipients, particle size, morphology, surface characteristics, and dry-coating parameters. By identifying key predictors—like silica coating parameters, particle-size distribution, and particle shape—ML tools help classify powders into flow categories from cohesive to free-flowing.
The practical impact is significant: these models reduce the need for extensive physical testing, allowing earlier and more efficient formulation design. In validation, twelve blends predicted by the model were experimentally tested, and the predictions held up with around 83% accuracy for actual flow regimes. Overall, the study highlights how combining ML with material science insights can streamline pharmaceutical development—cutting resource usage, accelerating processes, and supporting quality-by-design strategies.
A recent industry study highlights that the global cocoa bean market, valued at approximately US $13.5 billion two years ago, is projected to grow at a 4.9% annual rate and reach around US $20.8 billion by 2032, despite facing significant environmental and infrastructure challenges, especially in leading West African producing regions.
Businesses are adapting to shifting consumer trends—such as rising demand for plant-based and vegan chocolate alternatives—which is broadening cocoa use into new product categories. Combined with persistent investments and resilient growth trajectories, these developments point to robust cocoa sector expansion throughout the early 2030s.
Trade deal developments in July and a fresh set of tariffs set to begin on August 1 are generating contradictory signals for the U.S. baking and food industry as well as wheat farmers. While new frameworks with major trading partners like the EU and Japan have standardized a 15% baseline tariff on imports—which could reduce volatility—the looming threats of steep levies (e.g., 35% on Canada, 30% on Mexico, 25% on India/South Korea, and up to 50% on Brazil) are raising uncertainty and potential cost pressures. Analysts warn that these tariffs could push consumer prices higher, squeeze margins, and make supply chain planning more difficult across the industry.
From the wheat perspective, trade agreements offer some stabilizing force—particularly a deal ensuring Bangladesh imports approximately 700,000 tonnes of U.S. wheat annually over five years—but broader market forces remain bearish. Commodity advisors note that while trade deals provide currency support and structured demand, the overarching picture for wheat remains neutral to weak for the 2025–26 season. With China’s trade negotiations and deadlines still unresolved, the outlook remains uncertain, especially regarding export demand and pricing dynamics.