China's recycled polypropylene market shifted from a soft February to a firmer tone in early March, driven by sentiment-led buying and tighter spot availability in Shenzhen yards. New national standards for recycled plastics, effective early February, added uncertainty as participants reassessed offers and quality requirements. Downstream offtake for injection moulding grade rPP remained broadly steady, with momentum increasingly dependent on trader positioning and spot availability rather than industrial demand. The market moved from cautious to selectively bullish as regulatory implications were weighed against stable feedstock conditions. In processing, recyclers maintained steady offtake while traders pressed for higher levels. The R-PP-Injection Moulding Spot Ex-Shenzhen benchmark eased from the prior month, indicating a softer backdrop despite near-term price movement. Domestic recyclers account for roughly 92% of local consumption, with imports around 8%, supporting local sellers to test firmer offers. Looking ahead, sentiment and regulatory impact may keep a stable to modestly firmer near-term outlook; monitor weekly spot flows and seller behavior.
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.
