DIPE prices in the USA drifted lower in February as cost-driven selling and soft demand weighed on the market. After a stable start to February, mid-month momentum turned softer and carried into month-end. Easier upstream costs translated into softer spot offers, with no compensating tightening in logistics or demand. The February weekly assessment showed prices lower, reflecting the tone. Demand was mixed: mid-month activity held steady before sentiment deteriorated toward month’s end, with little sign of a demand recovery to counter the price drift. Domestic plants remain the backbone of supply, meeting around three-quarters of U.S. DIPE requirements, while imports cover the remaining share. In contrast to weak demand, some applications did not absorb incremental offers, leaving sellers to compete for limited volumes and push prices lower. Availability rose as falling natural-gas costs and cheaper steam-cracker feedstocks depressed input costs, enabling higher run-rates and broader supply. Looking ahead, softness is expected to persist unless demand strengthens or logistics tighten.
Selenis has effectively manufactured recycled PET chips using terephthalic acid sourced from Circ®, a textile-to-textile recycler based in Virginia. The chip production took place through a series of batches at Selenis' pilot plant in San-Giorgio, Italy. By utilizing inputs recovered from polycotton textile waste, Selenis has created high-quality PET chip, which has been further processed into DTY yarn. This yarn will play a crucial role in product development as Circ prepares for additional capsule launches. Selenis is leveraging the success of this initial collaboration phase and is committed to advancing towards an offtake partnership to support Circ's inaugural industrial facility.
Eduardo Santos, Head of Corporate Strategy at Selenis, remarked that the monomer synthesis showed a performance comparable to virgin terephthalic acid. He expressed optimism about the consistent quality of Circ's monomer output and anticipated future commercial success. Santos pointed out that the Circ partnership complements Selenis's existing mission and goals for a more sustainable textile industry. He further stated their anticipation of expanding upon this collaboration and providing support for Circ's forthcoming commercial production trials.
