China’s Ethylene Carbonate market shifted to a softer posture in early March after February’s mixed movement. Industrial demand weakened as converters deferred discretionary purchases, while battery inquiries remained steady. Late-February stabilization for battery-grade material gave way in March as prompt availability and subdued spot buying pressured sellers. Overall market sentiment turned cautious: producers maintained steady run rates and import arrivals cleared without delay, swelling prompt availability and limiting sellers’ ability to defend earlier price levels. Demand for Ethylene Carbonate bifurcated along end-use lines, keeping battery applications resilient while processors faced downward pressure from weaker appetite in industrial segments. Battery-grade Ethylene Carbonate held patterns reflected balanced supply and demand, with weak interest from processors. On a monthly basis, battery-grade prices softened versus the prior period; weekly checks showed activity fluctuating, followed by a slide in early March as supplier competition intensified and spot buying remained muted. Outlook for Ethylene Carbonate remains cautious, with further softening possible amid ample inventories and smooth feedstock inflows.
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.
