China’s Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates (FAE) market is expected to firm slightly in May 2026, following a softer April when CFR Ningbo values slipped amid weak detergent, personal care, and textile auxiliary demand and increased supply from Southeast Asian ethoxylation restarts. For May, ChemAnalyst projects a 3% month on month uptick, supported by rising fatty alcohol and ethylene oxide costs, improving seasonal demand, and firmer freight sentiment. Detergent and household cleaning manufacturers are set to resume restocking ahead of the early summer wash cycle, while personal care formulators are expected to increase intake for shampoo and cosmetic applications. Although agrochemical demand remains moderate, stable adjuvant consumption provides baseline support. Logistics remain a key factor, with uneven container availability and potential mid quarter freight adjustments keeping landed costs elevated. Despite improved supply, sellers are reluctant to discount below cost support levels, pointing to a cautiously bullish May outlook driven by feedstock inflation and seasonal consumption patterns.
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.
