(8) Loans Payable

Short-term bank loans

On December 31, 2023, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the Bank of Cangzhou, to borrow $142,706 at a fixed interest rate of 5.5% per annum. The loan is secured by certain of the Company’s manufacturing equipment with net book value of $251,593 as of September 30, 2024. The loan will be due by December 30, 2024.

On December 31, 2023, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the Bank of Cangzhou, to borrow $285,413 at a fixed interest rate of 5.5% per annum. The loan will be due by December 30, 2024.

On September 15, 2023, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the ICBC, with a balance of $nil and $2,824 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The loan bore a fixed interest rate of 3.45% per annum. The loan was repaid in June 2024.

On September 22, 2023, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the ICBC, with a balance of $nil and $70,594 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The loan bore a fixed interest rate of 3.45% per annum. The loan was repaid in June 2024.

On September 22, 2023, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the ICBC, with a balance of $nil and $350,149 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The loan bore a fixed interest rate of 3.45% per annum. The loan was repaid in June 2024.

On June 11, 2024, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the ICBC, with a balance of $2,854 as of September 30, 2024. The loan bears a fixed interest rate of 3.45% per annum. The loan will be due by June 11, 2025.

On June 21, 2024, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the ICBC, with a balance of $142,706 as of September 30, 2024. The loan bears a fixed interest rate of 3.45% per annum. The loan will be due by June 21, 2025.

On June 22, 2024, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the ICBC, with a balance of $142,706 as of September 30, 2024. The loan bears a fixed interest rate of 3.45% per annum. The loan will be due by June 22, 2025.

On June 24, 2024, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the ICBC, with a balance of $139,852 as of September 30, 2024. The loan bears a fixed interest rate of 3.45% per annum. The loan will be due by June 24, 2025.

As of September 30, 2024, there were guaranteed short-term borrowings of $142,707 and unsecured bank loans of $713,531. As of December 31, 2023, there were guaranteed short-term borrowings of $nil and unsecured bank loans of $423,567.

The average short-term borrowing rates for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were approximately 4.47% and 4.52%. The average short-term borrowing rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were approximately 4.47% and 4.66%.

Long-term loans

As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, long-term loans were $8,931,986 and $11,378,429, respectively.

As of September 30, 2024, the Company’s long-term debt repayments for the next coming years were as follows:

On July 15, 2013, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Rural Credit Union of Xushui District for a term of 5 years, which was originally due and payable in various installments from December 21, 2013 to July 26, 2018. On June 21, 2018, the loan was extended for additional 5 years and was due and payable in various installments from December 21, 2018 to June 20, 2023. On August 24, 2023, the loan was extended for another 3 years and will be due and payable on August 24, 2026. The loan is secured by certain of the Company’s manufacturing equipment with net book value of $nil as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Interest payment is due monthly and bore a rate of 7.68% per annum. Effective from November 15, 2022, the interest rate was reduced to 7% per annum. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the total outstanding loan balance was $3,566,229 and $3,528,315. Out of the total outstanding loan balance, current portion amounted was $1,996,460 and $1,269,290, which is presented as current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet and the remaining balance of $1,569,769 and $2,259,025 is presented as non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

On April 17, 2019, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Rural Credit Union of Xushui District for a term of 2 years, which was due and payable in various installments from August 21, 2019 to April 16, 2021. The loan was renewed on March 22, 2021, December 24, 2021 and April 16, 2024 and extended for additional 5 years in total, which is due on April 15, 2026 according to the new schedule. The loan is secured by Tengsheng Paper with its land use right as collateral for the benefit of the credit union. Interest payment is due quarterly and bore a rate of 7.68% per annum. Effective from November 15, 2022, the interest rate was reduced to 7% per annum. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the total outstanding loan balance was $2,283,301 and $2,259,026, respectively, which are presented as non-current liabilities and current liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

On December 12, 2019, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Rural Credit Union of Xushui District for a term of 2 years, which is due and payable in various installments from June 21, 2020 to December 11, 2021. The loan was renewed on March 22, 2021 and December 24, 2021 and extended for additional 3 years in total, which will be due on December 11, 2024 according to the new schedule. The loan is secured by Tengsheng Paper with its land use right as collateral for the benefit of the credit union. Interest payment is due monthly and bore a rate of 7.56% per annum. Effective from November 15, 2022, the interest rate was reduced to 7% per annum. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the total outstanding loan balance was $1,855,182 and $1,835,458, respectively, which are presented as current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

On February 26, 2023, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Rural Credit Union of Xushui District for a term of 2 years, which is due and payable in various installments from August 21, 2023 to February 24, 2025. The loan is secured by Dongfang Paper with its land use right as collateral for the benefit of the credit union. Interest payment is due monthly and bore a rate of 7% per annum. The loan was repaid in July 2024. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the total outstanding loan balance was $nil and $2,541,404. Out of the total outstanding loan balance, current portion amounted was $nil and $1,284,820, which is presented as current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet and the remaining balance of $nil and $1,256,584 is presented as non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

On December 5, 2023, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Rural Credit Union of Xushui District for a term of 3 years, which was due in various installments from June 21, 2024 to December 5, 2026. The loan was guaranteed by an independent third party. Interest payment was due monthly and bore a rate of 7% per annum. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, total outstanding loan balance was $1,227,274 and $1,214,226, respectively. Out of the total outstanding loan balance, current portion amounted $513,743 and $225,903, which is presented as current liabilities and the remaining balance of $713,531 and $988,323 is presented as non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

Total interest expenses for the short-term bank loans and long-term loans for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were $171,430 and $247,628, respectively. Total interest expenses for the short-term bank loans and long-term loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were $593,271 and $760,807, respectively.