China’s n-propanol market witnessed an exceptional spike during the week of 13 March 2026, with spot prices surging by about 60.6%. The jump followed a previously flat mid February market that had stabilized after a firm January, as downstream coatings, pharmaceutical, and chemical demand softened and inventories stayed comfortable. In early March, rapidly escalating Middle East tensions disrupted crude and naphtha flows via the Strait of Hormuz, driving a steep rise in feedstock and freight costs and tightening domestic propylene and oxo alcohol supply. Against this backdrop, Chinese producers lifted offers sharply, while coatings and specialty chemical buyers rushed to restock ahead of the spring construction season, amplifying the short-term surge in n-propanol prices.
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.
