China’s propylene carbonate market remained under pressure throughout May 2026 as easing feedstock costs and cautious downstream procurement continued weighing on sentiment. While April provided a relatively stronger pricing base, market focus shifted toward May’s weakening fundamentals, particularly softer buying interest from battery electrolyte, solvent, and electronics sectors. Propylene carbonate demand remained stable in volume terms but lacked the momentum necessary to absorb comfortable inventories across eastern China. At the same time, lower propylene oxide costs reduced production expenses and encouraged suppliers to offer more competitive pricing. Sellers increasingly widened discounts to maintain sales volumes, reinforcing the bearish tone across the market. Inventories remained adequate at major coastal hubs, limiting the potential for supply-driven support. Although the concentration of production capacity in Shandong remains a factor worth monitoring, current market conditions continue to favor buyers. Looking ahead, propylene carbonate prices are expected to remain under pressure unless feedstock costs recover or downstream demand improves materially.
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.
