Lithium Hexafluorophosphate markets in China moved from a soft April into a volatile May session as feedstock costs and buying shifted FOB dynamics. Early in the year, oversupply and cautious procurement weighed on sentiment, but buying re-emerged in May as logistics improved and port operations steadied, providing support from battery and energy-storage chains. The rebound followed firmer upstream costs and a pickup in downstream call-offs, underscoring ongoing demand from the electrolyte and battery sectors. Chinese electrolyte producers continued to secure Lithium Hexafluorophosphate volumes to feed strong LFP cell production and grid-scale tenders, while overseas cathode buying from Korea and Japan lent support. In contrast, converters and traders, with inventory coverage, limited urgent spot buying and kept FOB sentiment in check. Upstream cost dynamics remained pivotal, with HF contributing to cost pressure while battery-grade lithium salts remained readily available. The outlook points to modest downside risk in the near term, followed by gradual recovery from mid-year, contingent on procurement activity.
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.
