The refined castor oil market in the United States turned bearish due to increased volumes from India and subdued spot inquiries in February 2026. Early in the month, Indian crushers processed their main December–January seed arrivals, improving export availability. Logistics eased mid-month, with softening freight rates and rising stock levels at Gulf Coast terminals. Although late-February buying remained steady, it was characterized as non-urgent as buyers reduced inventories. Demand for castor oil focused primarily on specialty lubricant blenders, nylon-11 polymer producers, and personal-care ester makers, which supported consistent consumption. However, weak demand in construction-linked coatings due to winter weather limited incremental buying. Upstream dynamics improved as Indian crushers handled arrivals without significant disruptions. While availability increased, rising energy costs and higher bunker-related insurance premiums continued to challenge the market. Looking forward, ongoing trade uncertainties and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are anticipated to impact future castor oil prices and supply-chain stability. Market participants should remain attentive to these evolving conditions.
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.
